Read and Write Thai

Southeastern Public Library System

ne Brown

Reading and Writing 5 0792 55401329 3

A

A A A

• A

THAI

n2iFi\3^a n2iFi\a^a n2iñ\3^a n^Iñ^3^a n2iFì\3^a (îrmvifd

DK Editions Duang Kamol

ZIFI\3^a

Reading and Writing

THAI by

Marie-Hélène Brown McAlester Public Library 401 North 2n(j McAlester, OK

74501

iiiJ

495.91 BROWN Brown, Marie-H'el'ene. Reading and writing Thai /
Editions Duangkamol Siam Square, Bangkok, Thailand © 1993

401 North ¿nd fitreet McA1i-3tnr, OK 74501 918 - 4?i-09:^0 LT?KARY I'CUr.3 Uoridf-y thru îhiirnàay 9 k.U - 8 P.1Í. Friday 91.U. -6P.U« Saturday 9 l.U. - 5 P.M.,

Reading and Writing Thai by Marie-Hélène Brown ISBN 974 210 4506

mua»

D|C Edition Duangkamol G.P.O. Box 427 Bangkok Thailand

•jvia 16/2536 Limited edition for 2,000 copies

Distributed by D.K. Today Co., Ltd. 90/21-25 Rajprarop Road, Maggasan Payathai, Bangkok 10400 Tel. (02) 245-5586

D.K. Printing House 2 1 2 / 1 opp. Phongphet Market. Ngamwongwan Bangkok MRS.

10210

NUSARA

Tel.

(02) 589-5227

SOONGSAWANG

With my grateful thanks to: Bungon Gesdee

maw eWîWlNtÎ fwUflTJ'Jfí iwiivi'jw ojjlnyati and my husband Peter for their patience and precious advice.

INDEX p. I p

INTRODUCTION

GLOSSARY

p III

ABBREVIATIONS THE HYPHEN Chapter 1: Language and script

p'^y p' i

Origin. Alphabet. Thai writing. Sentence pattern. Numbers. The five tones. Different dialects spoken in Thailand.

p

^

Chapter!: Phonetic transcription Vocalics. Vowels. Dipthongs and tripthongs. The special symbol/?/called "stop". Consonants. Four basic types of syllables: phonetic construction. The five tones.

p

g

Chapter 3; Letter symbols: VOCALICS Generalities. How to draw the letters. Simple letters. How to name Thai vocalics. Three special letters ; 0, 1, 0.

, .li"!

Compound letters. Inherent vowels /-a?/, /-o-/ and /-oo/. General chart of the 25 vowel symbols. Dipthongs and tripthongs: general chart.

Chapter 4: Irregularities in the length of certain vocalic letters I- , II- and -0. Other long vocalics used as short • Short vocaUcs used as long.

p

Chapters: Letter symbols; CONSONANTS Generalities. Phonetic value and pronunciation. How to draw Thai consonants. Why so many letters? How to name Thai consonants. The fourty-four consonants: çhart. The fourty-four consonants and their particularities. The six consonam phonetic values in syllable-final position,

Chapter 6: Two sets of special letters Chapter?: Special symbols The repetition symbol H The abbreviation symbol i The "ETC..." symbol ini The silence symbol : -

^ '

.

*

^

p" ^

EXERCISE 1 Chapters: Consonants with two functions in word-medial position

P- öl P. 66

General cases. Special cases. Remarks.

Chapter 9: Syllables

P-

Generalities. Phonetic transcription of live and dead syllables. How to separate syllables.

EXERCISE 2 Chapter 10: The five tones

P- 71 P-

Generalities. The four tonal markers. The five tones without tonal markers. Recapitulative chart. Chart illustration. Substitutes for the two missing tones with G2 and G3 initials. General remarks. The 3 consonant groups and the 4 tonal markers.

EXERCISESEXERCISE 4 Chapter 11: What to know and remember about i when not in initial position.

P- 82 P- 87 P. 92

When in final position. When silent behind n, ft and it. Double 1 used as a vocalic or vocalic + consonant.

EXERCISES Chapter 12: Consonant clusters & groupings

P- 95 P- 97

General rules. Remarks on the five predisposed vocalics when they precede at least two consonants. Type 1. Type 2. General remark. Type 3.

Chapter 13: Irregular tones

P- 104

Type 3. Some other disyllabic words.

EXERCISE 6 Chapter 14: Silence, with and without the marker

P- 109 P. 116

The silence marker. The silence marker is omitted. Silent letters in compound words.

Chapter IS: How to spell words

P- 120

Vocalics. Consonants. Examples • Particularities.

EXERCISE Chapter 16: How to use a dictionary

P- 121 P. 123

INTRODUCTION Tliis book is intended for all people wishing to learn the Thai system of writing and reading . Before making any attempt to study the letters and rules themselves, the student must be familiar with the phonetic system and the technical terms defined in the glossary. The main chapters are presented in the following order: - phonetic transcription. - vocalic letters. - consonant letters. - syllables. - basic tone rules. - special letter-combinations. - irregular tones. - how to spell words. - how to use a dictionary. This order should simplify the search for any rule or definition whenever the pronunciation or spelling of a word troubles the reader. Although chapters must be studied in sequence, several should be skipped until the student has a fair knowledge of phonetics, simple, compound and inherent vocaUcs, the forty-four consonants divided into three groups and the basic tone rules. (Chapters to be skipped are indicated appropriately). All examples given m the first chapters cannot be read nor pronounced until then. The first attempt to read and write words begins as soon as the entire alphabet has been considered. The exercises develop progressively to facilitate comprehension of the rules as they are presented. Words and examples are in alphabetical order. The student will soon find the importance of knowing all the basic rules of the Thai system of reading and writing as most dictionaries do not give the tone of syllables nor the length of vocalic phones. Reading and writing Thai is not as difficult as it looks once the basic system has been mastered, so persevere and have fun. It is worth a little effort! Good luck

I

GLOSSARY CLOSED SYLLABLE

; syllable ending in a consonant phone.

COMPOUND

. compound vocalic ( vocalic letter built up of two or more elements )

DIPTHONG

Metter corresponding to the combination of two vocalic phones as /-ai/, /-aa/ . . .

FINAL

; letter corresponding to the last phone of the syllable when it is a consonant.

INHERENT

.one of the three vowels which are pronounced and not written; /-a?/, /-o-/ and l-ooj.

INITIAL

: letter corresponding to the first

phone of the syllable

( always a consonant ). OPEN SYLLABLE

: syllable ending in a vocalic phone.

PHONE

; single speech-sound ( vowel or consonant; vocalic phones are single or compound. ).

SONORANTS

;the ten G3 consonants which do not have their equivalent in G2

(•3, 91'

corresponding

to /ij-/, /n-l, /m-/, /y-/, /r-/, /I-/, /w-/. Convertible sonorants;

the 8 sonorants which are not

underlined. They are preceded by

H 141

when required

by the tone rules ( chapter 10 paragraph 6 Bb, page 79 ). TRIPTHONG

; letter corresponding to the combination of three vocalic phones as/-iao/, /-uay/ . . .

VOCALICS

11

; general term including vowels, dipthongs and tripthongs.

»''".••Vii

ABBREVIATIONS C

=

consonant

CS

=

closed syllable

•

i

¿ í > J?- . -i' •' -V 1

DCE

=

dead consonant ending

G3S

=

sonorant

I

=

inherent

LCE

=

live consonant ending

LV

=

long vowel; dipthong or tripthong

OS

=

open syllable

PV

=

predisposed vocalic

S

=

syllable

SI

=

short inherent /-a?/ or /-o-/

SV

=

short vowel

.i'••

• h!

» v',.• '

-fi

ririq

' •1 • •

'ov-! ; ÜV-J.Í •

./ííC -•>! .ifir :v--îiifs/îctrfq 3ítí nö^lW^ ;í;Í'S;ü í ; -i

arffítí.fi'A'

'

• "

nMi-i

111

THE HYPHEN Here the use of hyphens has to be understood from the beginning. In this book they often occur with letters or phonetic symbols when considered alone. THEY ALWAYS GIVE THE POSITION OF THE LETTER OR THE PHONE IN THE SYLLABLE. 1) LETTERS: A) Vocalics: As shown in chapter 3, vocalics can be simple or compound, written before, after, above, below or on three sides of the initial consonant; the hyphen gives the position of the initial. B) Consonants; No hyphen occurs with consonant letters. 2) PHONETICS; A) Vocalics: a) The phonetic symbol represents the phone of a letter only found in medial position: hyphen on each side of the phone as

--

/-a-/.

b) The phonetic symbol represents the phone of a letter only found in final position: hyphen written before the phone as c)

-1 /-a?/.

The phonetic symbol represents the phone of a letter either found in

medial or final position: hyphen written on each side of the phone or not written at all according to the context as - T (- ) /-aa-/ or /aa/. B) Consonants: Consonants often have two different phonetic values according to their position in the syllable. When the phonetic symbol is followed by a hyphen it gives its value in initial position. When the phonetic symbol is preceded by a hyphen it gives its value in final position.

IV

CHAPTER 1 LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT 1) ORIGIN: In the course of history the Thais emigrated from southern China. From the fifth to the thirteenth century, what is now known as Thailand was dominated by Möns and Kmers.

When, in the thirteenth century, the people finally

formed a

nation, they kept the cultural heritage of their ancestors and adapted it to their new national characteristics.

The Möns had been influenced by the Indian civilisation

and were Theravada Buddhists. The Kmers had adopted Hinduism which was later replaced by Mahayana Buddhism.

The language of Theravada is Pali,

that of

Mahayana is Sanskrit. Thus modem Thai developed from a mixture of many words and concepts from Pali, Sanskrit, Mon and Kmer languages.

2) THE ALPHABET: In 1283 King Ram Khamheng introduced an official Thai alphabet on the model of Indian script, including two important modifications in order to simplify the writing.

Two consonants standing together at the beginning or end of a word

were separated, they were not joined in a ligature as in Sanskrit but written separately as in the Roman alphabet. The signs for vowels, which in most Oriental writings stand before, after, below or above the initial consonant, were brought into line with the consonants, thus forming genuine vowel letters. In this way the king invented a true alphabet, but the second innovation was still too revolutionary and not maintained. Nowadays there is still no comprehensive alphabetical order which includes both consonants and vowels as in the Roman alphabet. Each series is considered separately. There are twenty-one consonant phones represented by fourty-four letters divided into three categories according to the tone rules: nine middle class, eleven high class, twenty-four low

class.

Twelve of the twenty-one phones are each

represented by two, three or four letters per class. In order to distinguish each of them when orally spelling a word, they are all named by a standard arbitrary word. There are nine short vowel phones and their equivalent in long.

These

1

eighteen phonetic values are represented by twenty-five simple and compound letters, as seven of them change their form according to their position in the syllable. The vowel alphabet is composed of fifteen simple letters ( though three of them are built up of two elements ) which also occur as part of compound vocalics ( vowels, dipthongs and tripthongs ). To these fifteen added:

simple letters three consonants are

two of which also act as vowels in some cases, all three can be part of

compound vocalics. In addition to consonants and vocalics there are two sets of special letters which represent combined consonant and vowel sounds. They are always considered individually and occur in the consonant alphabet.

3) THAI WRITING: Writing is from left to right, with no distinction of capital and small letters. Though printed characters occur in different sizes and styles, the basic form is always the same. Letters are never linked. There is no space between words, only between sentences. No punctuation is used.

4) SENTENCE PATTERN: Each word stands in isolation, without any grammatical modification. Number, gender and tense are given by the addition of extra words when necessary. Articles do not exist. Adverbs and equivalent clauses occur either at the beginning or the end of sentences. Adjectives are placed after the noun they quaUfy (except for numerals ).

Every concrete word belongs to a category. The word which

designates it is called a classifier. It is always used when things, persons, animals, are counted by the piece. Therefore « five cats » would be translated as « cats five animals » as numerals occur before the classifier. The usual sentence order is Subject + Verb + Object + . . . In colloquial Thai it is customary to omit pronouns, prepositions and all other words which are not entirely necessary to the comprehension of the statement. Yet words which might seem useless to foreigners are used to make the sentence sound more complete.

2 •"•f, >Cr

'

5) NUMBERS;

{>'/•,,-y

^*

4/'^"

There are Thai numeral symbols although Arabic numerals are widely used nowadays. 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

o ® l ® s n < ¿ < 3 f b c i í ¿ S

:; í ífii

6) THE FIVE TONES: Like Chinese, Thai is a tonal monosyllabic language.

Each syllable is

pronounced in one of the five tones: middle, low, falling, high or rising. The tone rules are precise enough to allow any serious foreign student to read and pronounce Thai correctly when having a good knowledge of all the letters, the three consonant groups and the tone rules. acquire a perfect pronunciation

Without any doubt the best way to

would be to spend some time in Thailand or among

Thai people, nevertheless when knowing all the important basic rules the student can practice by pronouncing aloud very regularly, being fully aware of the length of vowels, the pronunciation of each letter, the tone of each syllable, trying to improve the general speed.

7) DIFFERENT DIALECTS SPOKEN IN THAILAND; Nowadays there are four dialects spoken in Thailand; northern, north-eastern, central and southern Thai.

They are almost as different from each other as are

Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

Central Thai is taught in schools throughout the

country and considered as the official language. Yet people intending to spend some time in Bangkok must be aware of the two main phonetic differences which often occur in colloquial Thai in the capital: — Initial phones /phw-/ or /pw-/ are sometimes pronounced /f-/; — /r-/ is usually pronounced /I-/.

3

CHAPTER 2 PHONETIC TRANSCRIPTION 1) VOCALICS: « Vocalics » is a general term including vowels, dipthongs and tripthongs. It represents all letters corresponding to simple and compound vocalic phones. When it comes to the tone rules it is most important to make the distinction between short vowels and the rest of the vocalic family, as only short vowels are considered as short sounds! Short dipthongs correspond to a combination of two phones, therefore they cannot be considered as short when applying the tone rules.

2) VOWELS: There are nine basic vowel phones and their equivalent in long. The following chart gives the eighteen phones.

Each of them has been

illustrated by English words giving the closest phonetic value when possible. LONG VOWEL PHONES

SHORT VOWEL PHONES a?

banana

aa

guard

a?

golden

aa

sir

E?

get

EE

e?

blasé

ee

i?

ship

ii

0?

god

00

o?

all

oo

so!

u?

like « pull » with clenched teeth and

uu

who

tga

lips stretched sideways. u?

foot

3) DIPTHONGS AND TRIPTHONGS: There are lots of dipthong and tripthong combinations. Here are the most common phones;

DIPTHONGS

TRIPTHONGS

how

-ao

Ji!.!

-aao

^ . -,/r

i i K ' ^ o n n m Ißi;

my

-ay -aay

! • ÜV

ä. ••• 'J •'i sili ri'.alw

Í'

'' t

VT_,*

'

•

'• '

-ay

i-'-

-ia

Indm

-iu

few

-oy

toy

-iao :n ,!i.i

miaw!

t / ' M "i ;

;îè'î1 f. i

.-i,.

-ooy ,;fì3Ì(a H '

-aa ua

wapiti

-uaa

brewer

-uy

X. »Ä•-J » ß ai

.''M ^

-uay

vu;// -uaay

„ ,j-i; VC'Wfet •

-eo

Vocali/

-eeo

Vocaiic

'

nfic'l. •.Vx r, ' î' .|;Odq3l3î

why!

^ .y"

'• 1 •/ '-f *

'

'

aorta

-EEo NOTES:

Here the hyphen shows the position of the initial-consonant phonetic value. All phones are given in the Roman alphabetical order to help the student memorize them. All phones but /ua/ only occur in syllable-final position. The dipthong /ua/

can be found either in medial or final position in the

syllable. 4) THE SPECIAL SYMBOL /?/: This special phonetic symbol will always occur AFTER A SHORT VOWEL IN SYLLABLE-FINAL POSITION. This symbql is very useful when separating syllables, to apply the tone rules. Nevertheless this phonetic symbol also occurs in INITIAL position to represent the silent consonant

0 when its only rule is to carry a vocalic phone. It is then

called the « stop »

5

5) CONSONANTS:

There are twenty-one consonant phones. There are only six syllable-final consonant phones: /-k/, /-p/, /-t/ which are dead endings and /-m/, /-n/, /-i}/ which are live endings. These two classifications will be discussed later. They are very important to notice in order to have a better understanding of the tone rules. Ten of the twenty-one consonant sounds can be considered in parallel: five are aspirated and the other five are not. A) Unaspirated consonant phones:

/?-/ is called the « stop » /k/ like

to care

/j-/ "

John

/t/ "

telephone

Ivi "

poor

It corresponds to a silence.

Each phonetic value is a « pure »

consonant sound.

B) Aspirated consonant phones:

/h-/ /kh-/ /ch-/

Each phonetic value is based on the phones mentioned

/th-/

above but accentuated and aspirated.

/ph-/ Here the hyphen shows the position of each consonant phone in the syllable. When the phonetic value is followed by a hyphen, the phone only occurs in syllable initial position. When there is no hyphen, it occurs either in syllable-initial or final position. C) Remarks on the three dead endings;

Whenever

/k/,

/p/,

/t/

or

/kh/,

/ph/,

/th/

are found at the end of a

syllable, the phonetic value is always the same, each sound being pronounced very short and without the aspiration, therefore corresponding more to /-g/, /-b/ and /-d/ ( as they are transcribed in some other books ). D) The eleven other consonant phones:

/d-/

like

date

1^1

like

niother

/y-/

"

you

M

"

rose

baby

n-l

"

letter

"

ping-pong

/w-/

"

wagon

"

ûoon

/f-/

"

father

/s-/

"

sister

/b-/

"

/5/ /n/

O' '• I' ' ..il-

NOTE: The letters corresponding to /?-/, /w-/ and /y-/ are special letters. They are considered as consonants when in syllable-initial position. The first

two are vocalics in some cases and all three can act as part of

compound vocalic letters. 6) 4 BASIC TYPES OF SYLLABLES: phonetic construction. Consonant + Short Vowel

: Open syllable with short vowel

Consonant + Short Vowel + Consonant

: Closed syllable with short vowel

Consonant + Long Vocalic

: Open syllable with long vocalic

Consonant + Long Vocalic + Consonant : Closed syllable with long vocalic NOTE: The syllable-initial consonant can either be single or double. ALL SYLLABLES ALWAYS HAVE A CONSONANT AS INITIAL LETTER. 7) THE 5 TONES: phonetic transcription. There are five

distinct tones in Thai language.

Each syllable has to be

pronounced in one or another. The tone rules will be explained in detail further on. As they are rather intricate it is impossible to consider them before the student has a fair knowledge of the entire alphabet and can make the distinction between the three groups of consonants. middle

tone : no phonetic symbol

low

tone ; \

falling

tone ; /\

high

tone ; —-

rising

tone :

ais 33""

. . . :.;kí/IV/ fis ÎOil atä »ííogíioo'âîli'stoiîid'tüCijO / :¡i}V )

7

CHAPTER 3 LETTER SYMBOLS: VOCALICS ( vowels, dipthongs and tripthongs )

1) GENERALinES: Thai vocalics depend on Thai consonants. They always have to be carried by a consonant and are always pronounced after it ( whatever their position is, even

predisposed vocalics ). When a vocalic phone sounds alone in a syllable, the letter is carried by the silent consonant 0. Symbol-wise Thai vocalics are divided into three groups: - simples - compounds - inherents. 2) HOW TO DRAW THE LETTERS: Each character has to be drawn in one stroke, starting from: - the loop:

the stick:

- left or right;

3) SIMPLE LETTERS: There are fifteen

basic vocalic characters. They are simple letters even though

three of them are built up of two elements. Three are dipthongs, the others are vowels. They are not all written after the initiaKconsonant, as in the Roman system of writing; 5 occur before the consonant, 3 occur after, 5 occur above and 2 occur below.

8

It IS most important to leam them with their position around

the initial

consonant, in alphabetical order, as all the compound letters depend on them (page 123). A) 5 predisposed vocaHcs: written before the initial-consonant.

I-, II-, Ì-, 1-, 1-

corresponding to /ee/, /EE/, /oo/, /-ay/ and /-ay/.

It may be difficult for the beginner to guess where these predisposed vocaUcs should be pronounced when they are followed by two or several consonants but there is nothing to worry about (chapter 12). B) 3 postdisposed vocalics: written after the initial-consonant.

o -s, -1, -1

corresponding to /-a?/, /aa/ and /-am/.

C) 5 upperscript vocalics: written above the initial-consonant.

->

-, -,

corresponding to /-a-/, /i/, /Ü/, /o/ and /-uu-/.

D) 2 underscript vocalics: written below the initial-consonant.

7

corresponding to /u/ and /uu/.

E) Two special letters:

1

and

1

have the same phonetic value. They are usually pronounced short.

1 is only found in the twenty following words and their compounds: Ina

/klây/

( to be close, near )

Iñí

/khray/

( who?; someone, anyone )

Iñí

/khrây/

( to wish )

h

/jay/

this word occurs in a great number of words

i

refering to feelings, human qualities /chty/

( yes, that's it )

/cháy/

( to use, to be used )

/day/

( which; any )

. 'íwUUÍ

9

1«

/tây/

( southern )

lu

/nay/

( in -space-; at, in, on -time- )

lu

/bay/

( classifier for leaves; thin round flat objects; round and hollow objects such as hats, cups;

\

)

,

t

)

fruits and eggs )

-

'i; îiKÎ >!rjr' •

llî

/bay/

(dumb, mute)

'[A

/fày/

( to intend to, to think of )

lej

/yay/

( fiber; spider web )

îTslfl /sà?phày/

( women entering a family by marriage )

Iii

/say/

( clear, transparent )

Iii

/say/

( to put in, to insert )

/hay/

( tp give; for -somebody- )

/yày/

( big, large, voluminous )

/mày/

( new )

Imjj

Ifllfinty

/khraykhruan/

( to consider, to think of )

always preceded by a classifier. In Thai, objects, persons, animals belong to a certain class, a certain category. The word which designates them is called a classifier. It must be mentioned whenever objects, animals, persons are counted by the piece.

4) HOW TO NAME THAI VOCALICS:

When orally

spelling words vocalics are called îïTiî! /sa?ra?/ + their phonetic

value. Exceptions: 1 is called

/máymúan/

1 is called lìiuait) /máymá?laay/

10

( rolled up stick ) ( broken stick )

When written lilliueimfi

/sà?rà?

-a-/

occurs in syllable-medial position, it is called

/màyhan?aakàat/ ( stick turning in the air ) and is written

5) three special letters:

0, 1, 0.

Three consonants have to be considered at the same time as the fifteen simple vocahcs as two are used as such and the three of them are used as elements in compounds:

a

t), 1, 0.

: is a consonant when in syllable-initial position, never occurs in syllable-medial position. is part of a compound vocalic when in syllable-final position, and when followed by 1 as in l-tn /-iao/.

1

; is a consonant when in syllable-initial position. is a dipthong when in syllable-medial position, /-ua-/. is part of a compound vocalic when in syllable-final position. It is never pronounced /-w/ but /-of except in two compound dipthongs: -I /-iu/ -T /-ua/

0

: is a consonant when in syllable-initial position. It is silent and only used as a support when a pure vocalic sound is required as vocalics can never stand alone. is a vowel when in syllable-medial position, pronounced /- oo -/ and sometimes /-3 -/. is the vowel

/- oo / or part of a compound vocalic when in syllable-

final position and when followed by Ü as in 1-00 l-nayl: Examples of 9 pronounced short; '.siiti

Sí!lMU0tJ

/nitnòy/

:AUin

u'ot)

/boy/

bJlISîj :• •-

( a Uttle )

(often)

b:-

. ^

. '

^4, ft

11

ÎÏO-J y 0Î0O

/sog/

(to illuminate )

/h o q/

( room )

/?a?ráy/

(delicious)

6) COMPOUND LETTERS: They are built up of two or more of the following elements; - simple vocalics,

- 1 , (J

and/or 0.

- one of the two shortening symbols —t, Examples;

i-ot /-a?/, i-o

——.

u--

All simple vowels and three dipthongs have been studied in paragraphs 3 & 4. All other vowels, dipthongs and tripthongs are compound vocalic letters.

A) The two shortening symbols;

a)

-Î;

Five compound letters end with the symbol -t. IT IS NOT iTlï

/sà?rà?-a?/,

it is a symbol which corresponds to the phonetic « stop » to shorten the phone of certain vowels when in syllable-final position.

b) This symbol is added to three simple vowels when they phonetically occur in syllable-medial position; I-, It is called Ijjifig

sometimes

il-,

and occasionally -0.

/máytáykhúu/, placed above the initial.

There is one word to memorize as it is built up of a single consonant carrying the shortening symbol; n

12

/k$ ?/ ( then, also . . . ). THE TONE IS IRREGULAR.

There are also a few words to memorize as they are often written without the shortening symbol:

lllu

/pen/

( to be + NOUN )

mTíi

/phet/

( diamond ) Here î is silent.

mm

/met/

(metre )

Here 5 is silent.

ijjfiin

/métrik/

( metric )

Borrowed from French.

B) Compound vowels: Chart.

IN CLOSED SYLLABILES

IN OPEN SYLLABLlES

cmnpound vowels

compound vowek

pronounced in

pronounced in

medial position 1-I

RARE

A

-0-

RARE

phonetics

fínal position

phonetics

1-9-1

1-0S

1-9 9-1

1-0

1-0-I

I-IZ

RARE

l-oV

Î-Ï

RARE

loll

RARE

1-991

-0 I

d

11--

RARE

I-9V

/-HH/

h-l

l-t

/-e?/

l-E-l

ll-t

/-£?/

REMARK:

IIU'U'3

V

does not occur very often but here is a common word to memorize: ^

d

/khEg/ ( hard, firm ) also found in UlllìKI

V

/námkhEij/ ( ice )

Here the whole symbol disappears. In a closed syllable the phone is not represented by any symbol; /-o-/ is then inherent. I-VM-I

X0

+

y

=

xy

fl0

+

u

=

âu

( t o make an enquiry )

Here 0 just disappears. /-ua-/

XT

+

y

=

xly

Hi

+

U

=

«114

Here liimiQimff /mayhan?aakaat/

( garden ) disappears.

-1 is always read /-ua/ /-€-/

ixï

+

y

=

ixy

IMï

+

M

=

IMV4

( to see )

Here -t is replaced by the shortening symbol - written above

the

initial. /E-/

Idem with ll-s;

REMARK: The letters corresponding to these eight vowel phones occur in the chart on page 13 and in the recapitulative chart on pages 20 and 21. The fact that several vocaUc phones are represented by two different characters is a great help to the student. Syllables can easily be separated, and the tone rules apphed, when vocalics change their form according to their position in the syllable... 7) INHERENT VOWELS /-a?/, /-o-/ and /-oo/. In some cases these vocalic phones occur without being represented by any written symbol. The first two are very short, the third one is long but it can also be pronounced short in rapid speech. The three inherent vowels can sound rather difficult to understand to the beginner, but the following rules will show that they can be predicted in most cases. The following examples cannot be considered until the student has a fair knowledge of the entire alphabet and the basic tone rules. They must be used as

16

exercises when studying chapter 12, the phonetics must then be hidden so the reader works on the pronunciation of each word. A) /-a?/

: is always pronounced very short. is pronounced after a syllable built up of one consonant only which never carries any tonal marker, usually followed by at least another syllable. Exceptions: îriTSIîtU

/^la?pa?/

( arts, crafts )

/saathaará?ná?/

( public )

Examples:

Uf

*WÎI0W

/ja?mùuk/

( nose )

/chà?làat/

( to be clever, skillful )

/tà?l oot/

( through, from the beginning to the end )

/tà?làat/

( market place )

liJitíátí

/praysà?nii/

( post-office )

int)*

/wi?thá?yu?/

( radio )

*ííwn

/sà?nùk/

( to be pleasant, enjoyable )

/sà?baay/

( to feel good )

/sà?bùu/

(soap )

/sàppà?daa/

( week -formal- )

/sà?rùp/

( to summarize )

/saathaará?ná?/

( general, pubUc )

/?à?nùg/

( besides )

/?à?nù?yâat/

( to give leave, licence or permission )

/?à?r3 y/

( to be tasty, delicious )

tnjiE)

áíiJfilli

fílBIlfU

014 £yi« *0í0fj

17

The asterisk shows the examples to consider when studying chapter 12, ^ B) TYPE 3 on page 97, and b) on page 102 j , and chapter 13 (1A).

B) j-o-j

: is always pronounced very short. is pronounced in closed syllables when no written vocaUc occurs ( usually monosyllabic words ): the first consonant is the initial, which carries a tonal marker when required, the following consonant is the syllable-final letter.

Examples; nu

/kop/

( frog )

S114

/jon/

( to be poor; until, till )

wnîi-î

/toklog/

(OK)

?iii

/tòp/

( to slap, to hit with hands )

tnu

/tôm/

( to boil )

Yl\4

/thon/

( to endure, to continue, to last )

/thoq/

( flag )

un

/nók/

( bird )

uu

/bon/

( on,above)

"UIUU

/námnom/

( milk )

NU

/phom/

( hair, 1, me -man speaking- )

/fon/

( rain ) and fJuwfl /fontok/ ( to rain )

nu

/phóp/

< to meet somebody )

ufuln

/monthoo/

( one of the characters appearing in the

V

V

Ramayana )

18

UPI

/mot/

( ant )

fljj

/lorn/

( wind )

au

/lóm/

( to stumble )

•:-y

C) l-ool

áíuijs:^«

/sàppà?rot/

•Hfl

./hòk/

(six )

on

/?òk/

( chest )

>*

ipineappjie )

: is usually pronounced long except when there is neutrahsation in rapid speech. is mostly pronounced between U and 1 in words beginning with these two letters but also occurs occasionally in a few words which always have î as the second consonant. Examples;

I 00 I

ilîîl'U

/j3ora?khee/

( crocodile )

• j

imjîjni

/bo3rommá?súk/

( supreme happiness )

; 1 ì

niellili

/baorííbuun/

( perfect, complete; plentiful )

Hinfu

/b33ri?ween/

( neighbourhood, environment )

ufiíVi

/hoo ri?sàt/

( business company )

uinfi

/maoráíkot/

( emerald )

UI^JJ

/m 00 ra?sum/

( season of wind and storms, monsoon )

is also pronounced in certain words ending in a double consonant of which 1 is the final.

Examples; tini

ami

/thaawoon/

( permanent, strong, durable )

¡naikhoonl

(city)

/la?kh30n/

( staged play )

/?aak30n/

( revenue ) AND

fllUQini

/phaasu?aakoon/

( income taxes )

19

8) GENERAL CHART OF THE 25 VOWEL SYMBOLS; A Thai word is given to illustrate the use of each vowel symbol. The first hyphen from the left ( or the single one ) shows the position of the syllable-initial, the second hyphen shows the position of the final. NOTE: It is most important to make the distinction between short and long vowels to be able to apply the tone rules.

IN CLOSED SYLI^LES IN OPEN SYLLABLES VOWELS

VOWELS

pronounced in

pronounced in

medial position

final position letter

phonetics

REMARKS

phonetics

Thai words

letter

/fan/ (tooth) is called inherent

luwioimft /màyhSnîaakàat/

yÎiîJ

/thin/

/thWhaan/ (soldier) /thammá?daa/(regular)

•

sometimes short as in

TIMI?

/-a?/

/-a-/

/-aa-/

-1-

/-aa/

-1

/-a?/

l-OE

%Z

/jà?/ (will, shall)

Í1U

/jaan/ (plate) /maa/ (to come)

(you) but RARE

Ad-/

RARE

/99n/ (money, silver)

mor

/-99/

/-99-/

M-/

/-i?/

M

/-ii-/

'

l-M

is /-a?/and

/-ii/

d -0-

Ifi«

/k89t/ (bom)

iSuisio

/199iil9»/

l-O

M

/-ao/

(refer to next chapter)

20

/O-/

-0-

(careless)

/IÍ9/ (monkey)

t

fill

/hiip/ (trank)

fino^

/khlSj/ (canal)

Itilï

/l5?/

WaOB

/phi5y/ (suddenly)

/-O?/ not short

(dirty)

(to undo)

INCLOSED SYLLA BLES VOWELS

INOPEN SYLLiiiBLES VOWELS

proDöunced in

proBonnced in

mediai pontion _

REMARKS

plioneticg

/•3>/

, final position letter

-0-

piioDetics

letter

Thai words

-8 /•OS/

VOU

/chMp/ (toHke)

MJJO

/mJa/ (doctor)

Uinn

/m33rá?kóc/(emerald)

inhemit

RARE in Hnal position

Ao-/

inherent

Ac?/

/khon/ (person)

T-Ï ISr

/-OO-/

1—

/-OO/

/-n-/

r_

/«?/

M

/-ob/

/t¿?/ (uMe)

1-

/ño/

J

/nui)/ (one)

4

/-«H-/

-0

/khaan/

4

VO

/-U-/

- -

/-UU-/

/-€-/

I

/-u?/

-

/-uu/

=

/-e?/

t-ï

(chain)

(bitter)

/chttH/ (name)

.

/j¿?laa/ (kite)

•J

/^uu/

(snake)

iSn

/dèk/(chiki) /te?/(to kick)

/-ee-/

H

not very common with -

/-E-/

/-EE-/

I

11

11

d

/-ee/

l-

AE?/

ll-£

/-EE/

11-

1CU7

/neen/ (buddhist monk)

UVA

/khíi)/

uns

/lÉ?/ (and)

imìTi

/wÏEn/ (ring)

(hard)

•Special consonant combination considered on page 94. rr-

21

9 ) DIPTHONGS AND TRIPTHONGS : GENERAL CHART. •

•

-am

-1

T)1

/tham/ (to do« to make)

considered as a simple vocalic.

•ao

Í-1

IWI

/tào/ (turtle)

logically

1—le shouU be Aeshort

equivalent, butit is NOT.

•aao

-T)

U11

/yaao/ Oong)

-ay

-0

fio

/phay/ (danger)

-ay

1-

Iff

/^y/

-ay

1-

Intl

/klay/ (far, far away)

10

luti

/khSay/(to sell)

-aay

-99y ia

l-U

M

i-ei

•tao

l-tn

-iu

-T

-09y

m

-OB

(clear, transparent)

tîlCI

/I99y/ (further, more)

lUtl

/mia/ (wife)

17 tlTI

/rían/ (to study)

litn

Ahiao/ (grem)

in

/hiíí/ (to be hungry)

Í10Ü

/la^y/(to float)

-ooy

l-ö

luO

/booy/ (to whip)

na

1-8

17 f)

/ma/ (boat);

mtU

/phSan/

1700

/may/(continually...)

•«ay

l-OÜ

RARE

RARE

RARE

(friend)

A

only found in about twenty common words.

-ua

V -1

-ua-

--i-

/tua/ (classifier for animals...)

11Oft

/khùat/(bottle)

occurs only in final position.

1 used alone in medial position is a vocalic.

22

*-uaa

-n

-uay

-IV

/khuaa/ (right -direction-) mo

/suay/(pretty-girl-)

NOTES:

be

found in dosed syllaWes.

¿»Ufi

4 -s;.m460o:•i ^ 9îli

E flß 1^'"

^

, ^: ,

, i-

a

ÍÜ

v,ií..5 0-(íO '-'ii""'

;i8lí

•lîoi

aiKíli

ni

-víéftH

•jíí \o:ä i « \

{ toii' ^

»U

K ni b»«" ®

\SííXV

O

CHAPTER 4 IRREGULARITIES IN THE LENGTH OF CERTAIN VOCALIC PHONES ( This chapter contains hints on pronunciation rather than basic rules. It must be skipped until page 97. )

1) I- , 11- and 0. in a closed syllable, when die initial carries a tonal marker:

When these three letters are short the initial carries

/máytáykhúu/,

the shortening symbol — When the initial carries a tonal marker

^

cannot be used, therefore a few

general rules have to be considered. A)

(-

used in a syllable carrying one of the 4 tonal markers is usually pronounced short as in:

B)

in-3

/kèg/

( skilled )

llJ-3

/peg/

( straight; sharp -time for an appointment- )

II-

and - 0 used in a live syllable pronounced in the low tone are usually short as in:

C)

Wo-J

/sò^/

( to shine )

ijefj

/boy/

(often)

U- and 0 used in a live syllable pronounced in the high tone are always long as in:

1101

/lEEo/

( already )

lou

¡lóoni

( hot )

24 *

«

•S

D) II-

and -0 used in a live syllable pronounced in the falling tone can be short or long depending on the word as in:

no

/phoo/

(father)

•H0-Î

/hoi)/

( room )

i>

/khÉg/

( shin )

/pEEg/

( flour; face powder )

E) Recapitulative chart:

TYPE OF SYLLABLE

TONE

11- and -e

1-

\

(-) (-)

GÌ or G2 + luiofl /mày?èek/ VI ili /hoo nam/ + G3S + Iwion

\

usually SHORT 3

GÌ or G2 +

'S •o

LIVE

i § ì a.

1 B

/máythoo/

G3 + Iwion /mày?èek/

(-) (-)

SHORT or LONG G3 + lljTn /máythoo/

(-)

/ \ / /

always LONG Gl + líísm /màyjàttà?waa/

A

A

(-)

usually SHORT RARE

V

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

usually SHORT

Q u D

<

(e)

RARELY FOUND WITH A TONAL MARKER

a) examples: ino

/kèi)/

( skilled )

ii^ïJ

/jèm/

( clear, transparent

im-i

/bèg/

( to divide )

INVJ

/phèn/

( to leap )

•HiiotJ

/nò y/

( a Uttle )

rîii

25

one common exception: nou /kòon/

(previously)

b) examples:

Short

Long

unni

/kffiEg/

( to pretend )

rio

/phoo/

( father )

V

onoo-J

/toi)/ /yokyoi)/

( t o have t o ) ( to admire, to honor )

Jy

OMO

/yiihoo/

( trade mark )

unu

/lEn/

•Hot)

/hoy/

c) examples:

im

/thEE/

( genuine, real )

no-3 V im

/phoog/

( synonymous, kindred )

/mÉE/

( even though )

IIUUÜII

/yÉEmy^/ ( gay, smiUng )

leu

/roon/

(hot)

/rÉEg/

( vulture )

/loom/

( to circle )

niïîlo-î

/krà?p39/

( tin, can )

ah

/jÉo/

( crystal )

111

/pe?/

( twisted, distorted )

v aou

^iti.

d) examples:

26

( to glide )

( to hang down )

e) In dead syllables tonal markers are always rare as tones are already expressed. When a dead syllable carries a tonal marker -0, II-, I- are usually read short except in a few loanwords.

2) OTHER LONG VOCALICS USED AS SHORT:

A) t-

is nearly always considered as long, still there arc at kast two words to

memorize with IWW

used as short: /pan/

( m o n e y , silver )

I

/jà çnoaç/ ( to be flooded, inundated )

B) There are at least two monosyllaUc words spelt with -1- pronounced short:

TllW

/than/

( you, he, she, they -used by either men or women

to show respect for rank rather than personal respect; in written language it is the ordinary word to use for « you » - ) •3TU

/i)an/

( work )

3) SHORT VOCALICS USED AS LONG:

A) -1, l-l, 1-, 1-

often sound long in live monosyllabic words pronounced

in the high tone when these words are alone or in final position, but they are often pronounced short when they are followed by at least one syllable in compound words. Examples: iVIUfl

/chaomuat/

( early dawn )

«ulw

/tonmáiy/

( im, plant )

wain

/phÓnlá?máay/

( fruit )

27

0 d V41lini>3 V

VÍlViU

/námkhEg/

( ice )

/námnom/

( milk )

/máykwaat/

( broom )

(Irl) /máykhiit/ /faay/ ( matches ) Iwiüfi Jí

o

'H0-3"U1

/máy?éek/

( first tonal marker - )

/hognáam/

( toilets, washrooms )

B) As a general rule; In live syllables, vocalics have a tendency to be lengthened when in word position. C) One common monosyllabic word is always pronounced with long 1-1

lllfi'n

/plàao/

( to be empty )

ibiGvs/ ' / â d â t î À i |í»oÍ bi50«a .'.-i, îî,)-. ,i<.nj.Aí-T¡ Isnfl «i lo íJfioif: 3'ts

'«'>

"mo í¿fc3Í le Yd bawoHoi

i'.V'ii'

28

filii-«

a» «;u

i;

CHAPTER 5 LETTER SYMBOLS: CONSONANTS. 1) GENERALITIES: Thai consonants take alphabetical precedence over Thai vocalics. Symbol-wise there are fourty-four consonants although two of them are now obsolete. Regarding the tone rules, the fourty-four letters are divided into three categories respectively called: middle class, high class and low class. In this manual they wiU be refered to as Group 1 (Gl ), Group 2 ( G2 ) and Group 3 ( G3 ). Each of these consonant groups follows its own specific tone rules. 2) PHONETIC VALUE AND PRONUNCIATION: Each consonant letter is pronounced with the carrying vowel /- oo / when considered individually. Then the consonant phone preceding ¡-oo\ is the phonetic value of this letter IN SYLLABLE-INITIAL POSITION, as fifteen letters have a different value in syllable-final position ( see the corresponding chart on page 58 ). There are only six final consonant phonetic values: /-k/, /-p/, /-t/ or dead endings, and /-m/, /-n/, /-ij/ or live endings. REMARK: Consonant endings are always pronounced very short and half « swallowed » , therefore /-k/ sounds more like /-g/, /-p/ like /-b/ and /-t/ like /-d/ as they are transcribed in some other manuals. 3) HOW TO DRAW THAI CONSONANTS: The basic rule is to write from left to right starting with the loop and trying to complete the letter in one stroke. It is very important to notice whether the pen must go up or down when drawing the loop Examples;

29

"B Sí

Only two consonants are written without any loop.

- f) •

6

4) WHY SO MANY LETTERS ? As the Thai language developed from its earliest origins, borrowing heavily from Sanskrit, Pali, Mon and Kmer, more and more letters were added to the alphabet.

In 1283 King Ram Khamheng controlled this growth by introducing a

simplified standard Thai alphabet, although a

few uncommon letters were

maintained to indicate the ethymology of certain words. However two consonants, which are still in dictionaries, are now obsolete. 5) HOW TO NAME THAI CONSONANTS: Each consonant letter has been provided with an arbitrary deagnatory name to be used when orally spelling words. It is usually a common noun of which the first letter is the consonant so named. Example;

n In

/kao kày/ equivalent to K like Korea.

This method is to facilitate the distinction between two or more consonants with the same phonetic value as the fourty-four letters correspond to only twentyone different sounds.

This is how the alphabet is taught in Thai primary schools.

Nevertheless, Thai adults now tend to spell without the designatory word, considering it rather childish. However, this is the only method to give verbally the

cofreet spelling of most Thai words.

30

Exceptions:

/

1

is called î W4 ¡TOO han/ when double and pronounced /-an/ or

M

is called M

/-a-/.

/hw nam/ when placed before a G3 initial sonorant to

change the tone of the syllable.

8

is called o 141 /?oo

nam/when placed in front of the four following

words to change the tone of the syllable into the low tone: etil

/yàa/

( do not... )

Otnn

/yàak/

( to want to )

odi'î

/yàag/

( kind, sort of... )

oy

/yùu/

( to live at, to stay at, to be at )

j

• "*!

fl

is also called /soo khoo/from its resemblance to the letter

fi

is also called /soo I oo / from its resemblance to the letter

fl. î>.

NOTE: -a.

As it can be noticed in the four words given above, 0 141 does not carry the tonal marker, rt ui does not carry it either.

6) THE FOURTY-FOUR CONSONANTS: CHART.

The following chart shows the three groups as they must be memorized. The consonants are given with thdr designatory name.

The number

corresponds to the position of each letter in alphabetical order. At this stage the student does not have to memorizfe the spelling of each word but must be able to remember the desi^atoiy name corresponding to each letter pronounced with the right tones. The student must have a perfect knowledge of both vocalic and consonant

alphtbeti to be able to study any fUrther. He must be able to make the distinction between short vowels and long vocalics, consonants belonging to 01, 02 and G3.

31

K> n

9

fiO Ifl /kd9 kày/(chicken)

90 91U /jx> jaan/ (plate)

fl flO «

1* « ¿6

G2 highclass (11 letters)

Gl middle class (9 letters)

iflfl /daodèk/ (child)

1

8

11

«0 U/kk» khày/(eg()

2

V

Me VIA

3

Q

/U&>

khùit/ (bottle)

QQ H') /ch39 chi^/(type ofmusical instrument)

QO V(;]1 /doo chà?daa/(classical dance hat)

14

«

W0IW1/t M tào/(turtle)

21

0

00

g

go

15

S

|0 ]1U/tb» thaan/(pedestal)

iJ

lio lini /p73 plaa/(kind of fish)

0

00

U

UO

01-î/?35 ?àa9/(bucket) /boo

baymây/ (leaf)

9

no filio

<11

«10 "SfiÍA /kfeso rA?kha^ (tonple bell)

6

If

VO V14/cbM ch¿a9/(eleirfuuit)

10

OJ

DIO 1010 /ch33 ckM/ (smaUbush)

12

n

no Tiltil /tu» thàthlan/Csoklìer)

23 18

/1thx>

khwaay/buffalo)

0 flU /kli39 khon/(person)

4 5

20

g

/t?3 prà?tàk/ (harpoon)

G3 low class (24letters) fì

27

43

N

/th» thiÎç/(shopping bag)

j[

v

NO N4 /pb99 phA9/(bee)

22

16

28

M

«0 qjinil /ttaM pbûuthfto/(oM man)


^0

1

10

n

no VI1U/pl|M phaan/(offering tray)

30

fl

Î)0 f?1lf)1 /pk^ san^rfiao/(diinese junk)

32

/d|M mmithoo/(a character of RAMAYANA) 17 /th» tho9/(flag)

24

t\

fio f)i /fÏ3 faa/ (lid)

29

vi

vio vfu /f» fan/(tooth)

31

rr

tro iftb/«J» sìa/(tiger)

40

%

VO

11

ff

fío ffini/SM saalaa/(public Rest House)

y

T IO

M

VIO MU /h^3 hiip/(trunk)

0

00

-9

^0 j /999 9uu/ (snake)

7

U

UO Hlj /II39 nSu/(mouse)

25

è

tlS/»33 rá?sii/(hermit)

/»M sOo/(chain foranimalsì

38 39 41

/ti»? n6khûuk/(owl)

44

26

tu

010

U

UO ¿1/np9 m&a/(horse)

tl

(10

(y

l(U1/ins neen/(buddhist monk)

onv/ysd yàk/(demon)

tyo

/y» y^/(woman)

19 33

34 13

1

?0 110/t»? ma/(boat)

35

n

no

,36

W

MO ^W1/53jù71aa/(kite)

42

T

10 limu /ï|33 wEEn/(ring)

37

/la? IÌ9/(monkèy)

7) THE 44 CONSONANTS AND THEIR PARTICULARITIES: A) This paragraph should be used as a reference when working on exercises.Leaming it by heart would be fastidious and discouraging. It is highly recommended to read it once though and come back anytime needed. B) The hyphen shows the position of the consonant phonetic value in syllableinitial and final position. The designatory name corresponding to each consonant letter is mentioned, followed by an example giving the phonetic value in syllable-final position. The tone of syllables built up of C + SI /-a?/ is also mentioned as this depends only on the category to which the initial belongs.

n

/k/ n In

/koo kày/

( chicken )

•Hn

/hòk/

( six )

I

r"

- very common letter in both initial and final position. -

in initial position is usually read: /ka?r./ with the short inherent /-a?/ pronounced between the

two letters, when they are followed by another consonant AND other letters as in fllWff

/ka?ra?nii/

( duty, obligation )

/kro./, with the short inherent /-o-/ pronounced after the two letters, when they are directly followed by one consonant only, as in niJJ

/krom/

( to snore )

/kr./ when 1 carries a vocahc, as in flîïlîll /krà?pao/ ( pocket; bag ) - mi is usually read /kan/, as in fiîîlni fTîîÎKn

/kankray/

( scissors )

/kanchôok/ ( to threaten )

33

One of the few exceptions: DîîU /kam/

( results of mistakes

made in a previous life ) and all compound words b^inning with fiîîjj. - when n is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/ or /-o-/ is pronounced between the two letters ( /kà?/ ), except in some cases with H (na is often read /kl-/ ) as well as with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel. Ex:

-W

nu

/kôp/

( frog )

nau

/klàp/

( to return )

miiï

/kuaat/

( to sweep )

no-l

/kooi)/

(pile; to pile)

/kh-/ /-k/

II

- llî

-

/khoo khày/

( egg )

/b3Drommà?sùk/

( supreme happiness )

and 1/77 only occur in a very few words in initial position.

when II is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, the short mherent vowel

/-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /khà?/ ), except with a

in some cases

( lia is often read /khl-/ ) as well as with 1 and o considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex:

nil

/khop/

( to crack with the teeth )

DüUín

/khà?yìptaa/

( to wink, to bUnk )

/khùat/

( bottle )

/khSoi)/

( things )

/kh-/ /-k/ OBSOLETE

now replaced by m 11»

••3CÌ 3Î%ÏTâÎ 'V

/kh-/ /-k/

fl mio

/khoo khuaay/ ( buffalo )

Mîîfl

/phak/

- flî

( group, multitude -of similar people or articles- )

in initial position is usually read /khr-/

Ex;

fiî>j

- fiîî

/khrág/

( occasion, time )

is rare.

when

fl

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel between the two letters ( flO

/-a?/

or

/-o-/

( /khá?/ ), except with a

is pramumced in some cases

is often read /khl-/ ) as well as with 1 and 0 considered as

dipthong and vowel.

Ex:

fltU«

/kha?nit/

( the science of computation )

flU

/khon/

( person )

fia04

/khloog/

( canal )

fill

/khuan/

( to ought to )

#

35

«

/kh-/ /-k/ OBSOLETE: now replaced by ñ fintJ

W

/kh-/ /-k/ "W

/khoo rá?khaq/

( temple bell )

IU
/meek/

( cloud )

- mainly occurs in old words. - one common word:

^

/

/khoog/

( gong )

/p/ •3 ^

jryoo quu/

( snake )

B-3

/lig/

( monkey )

- -ÎÎ

and 071 are rare.

- -Î

directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position,

only occurs in a few words. The short inherent vowel /-o-/ is usually read between the two letters, except with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

fl

/j-/

/-t/

D DTU

/joo jaan/

(plate)

^"0

/dut/

( like, just as. . )

- D1 in initial position is usually read /jà?r./, with the inherent /-a?/ pronounced between the two consonants.

36

•

two common exceptions: flîsiu

V

# #»•

/joo rà?kêe/ ( crocodile ) /jig/

( to be true ) î

is

silent. - Sill

is rare but there are two common Words to memorize: fllltn

/janyaa/

( behaviour, morality )

•Dlîlîl-l

/janloog/

( to prevent from falling, to support )

- When Ì)

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent /-a?/ or /-o-/ is pronounced between the two letters, ( /jà?/ ), except with 1

and S considered as dipthong

and vowel. ÍJ

/ch-/ "0

/choo chig/ ( type of musical instrument )

never occurs in syllable-final position.

- iil and Î11Î are rare. - When il is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, the short inherent /-a?/ is usually pronounced between the two letters ( /cha?/ ), except with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

*

/ch-/ l-t/

V Vl'J

/choo cháai)/

( elephant )

lllsÍülí'U

/prà?yòot/

( to be useful )

-Irregular tone-

- 1Í1 in initial position is usually read /chr-/ but it is rare. - When

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

37

position, the short inherent /-a?/ or /-o-/ is pronounced between the two letters ( /cha?/ ),except with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

V04

H

/chom/

( to admire )

/chuay/

( to help, to assist )

/cháog/

(wig)

M

¡soo sôo/ ( chain for animals )

li Ti/

never occurs in syllable-final position.

-

directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, only occurs in a few words.

- one common word with

used as the initial : •MOW /soo y/

streets perpendicular to the main streets )

fM

/ch-/ /-t/ OJ lOJO

/choo chaa/ ( small bush -old word- ) - this letter only occurs in a few words.

««

/y-/

/-n/

ty

/yoo yîg/

( woman )

lJ4l0fy

/ba9?Wn/

( accidently )

- this letter rarely occurs in initial position.

38

( small

- one common word;

a

/d-/

/yupùn/

( Japanese )

/-t/

Q VQ1

¡áoo chá?daa/

( classical dance hat )

ng

/kòt/

( rule )

- this letter is nearly obsolete in initial position.

a

N g lIlSQn

¡too prà?tàk/

iJufiQ

/praakot/

(harpoon) ( clear, manifest; to seem, to appear )

- this letter rarely occiirs in initial position.

S

.

/th-/ /-t/ J 51VJ

/thw thaan/

( base, platform )

ijîsiîiîj

/prà?s98t/

( precious, esteemed )

tñ

-

- this letter rarely occurs in imtial position.

«n

/th-/ /-t/ n U{uT
/thoo monthoo/

( a character in the Ramayana )

f\j
/khrut/

( Garuda -mythical bird- )

- this letter is mainly foimd in syllable-final position.

m

/th-/ W

l-t/ /thoo phûuthâo/ ( old and respected person )

39

- this letter is nearly obsolete.

/n/ 04 iQJî

¡noo neen/

( young buddhist monk )

fjQj

/khun/

( title used in front of first names to show respect )

- this letter is mainly found in syllable-final position.

/d-/

/-t/

«

- WÎ

/doo dèk/

(children)

/ta?laat/

( market place )

is usually pronounced /da?r.. . / with the short inherent vowel

/-a?/ pronounced between the two letters, but it is rare. -

directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, only occurs in a few words, but is usually pronounced with the short inherent vowel /-a?/

or

/-o-/

between the two letters ( /dà?/ ),

except with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

N W Ifl'l

¡too tào/

( turtle )

•Kl?)

/chiiwit/

( life, age )

- WI in initial position is usually read /tr.. . / Ex:

Wî'î

/trog/

( straight )

wns)

/truat/

( to verify )

- when n is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initiai position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /tà?/ ), except with i and € considered as dipthong and vowel. V

Ex;

nil

/torn/

( to cook in water )

WillW

/tà?làat/

( market place )

/tâg/

( must, to have to )

V

IO "m;"

/th-/

/-t/

£i

/thoo thug/

10

/rot/

Yfi Ì bag ) ( vehicle )

rr t \iw •. 4? sxit ,jîOiJi»Q c S i i , 'di

- QÎ and till are rare.

- when £1 is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /thà?/ ), except with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex;

/thà?nón/

( street )

fill

/thòm/

( to spit )

y fìlfj

/thûay/

( cup ) rf

/th-/

'.bîQW WSl.

/-t/

ns.. îTf ' .... U. i•idi íítiw

Yl yivni

/thoo tha?haan/

( soldier )

UTM

/baat/

( baht -Thai currency- )

41

- TI5 in initial position is usually read:

nino

/sap/

( wealth, possessions )

nnu

/saap/

( to know )

Tino

/saay/

(sand )

Tl|«

/sut/

( to shrink, to lessen )

/thoorá?/

( prefix

/thoor... / as in m TlîïiïU

/thoor4?sum/

equal to "un" or "dis" )

( put together, bunched, clustered )

- when Tl is directly followed by another consQpant, in word-initial position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/

or

/-o-/ is pronounced

between the two letters ( /thá?/ ), except with T and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex:

TÌ14

/thon/

( to endure, to bear )

YIIW

/thuat/

( great-grandfather or mother )

/th-/./-t/ î Î-Î

¡Úioo thoq/

( flag )

ÎflîB

/kròot/

( to be or become angry )

- tí in initial position is usually read /thjor. ../ but only occurs m a

few words.

-

îlî

in initial position mainly occurs in compound words beginning

with the monosyllabic word tîîll /tham/( justice; Dharma-Buddhist teaching- )

-

when

t

is directly followed by another consonant in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

or sometimes

/-o-/

is

pronounced between the two letters ( /thá?/ ).

•M

/n/

VI MW

¡noo nuu/

( mouse )

01U

/?uan/

( to be fat, corpulent )

- Ul

rarely occurs in initial position.

one common word:

-

when 14

I4in

/ná?rók/

( hell )

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /ná?/ ), except with 1 and 9 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex: tin

U

/b-/

/nók/

( bird )

\ifl1

/na?khoDn/

(city)

USD

/nook/

( outside, exterior )

/-p/

u lulii

-

TJÎ

'"W

/boo baymáay/

( leaf )

/dip/

( raw, unripe, half-cooked )

in initial position is usually pronounced /boo r. . . /. Lots of

43

words begin with Ex; Uiwn

/boo ri?../.

/boori'?sàt/

( business company )

- Uîl in initial position is usually read /ban/.

Ex; UîliUimi DUfn

- when U

/bannaakaan/

( gift, present )

/bandaa/

( whole, entire; everyone )

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the inherent vowel

/-o-/

the two letters, except with 1

is usually pronounced between

and 0 considered as dipthong and

vowel.

/bon/

( to lament, to deplore )

lJl-3

/buag/

( a loop )

\J0fi

/book/

( to tell )

Ex: livJ

/P/ iJ iJin

/poo plaa/

( kind of fish )

nliJ

/tha?wiip/

( continent )

- iJl in initial position is usually read /pr-/ and occasionally /pa?r. . / with the short inherent vowel /-a?/(mainly words beginning with iJl). Ex:

iJîïÎlîl

iJn is rare.

44

/pra?jampii/

( annual, annually )

/pra?tuu/

(door)

ifv S*

- when il is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

or sometimes

/-o-/

is

pronounced between the two letters ( /pa?/ ), except in most cases with a ( iJa is usually read /pi-/ ) as well as with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex:

iJnW

/pc)kkà?tì?/

( normal )

iJai

/plaa/

( kind of fish )

llofl

/pooti

( lung )

9jiriw Mil > N

•

/ph-/

N

/phoo phug/

( bee )

,4

\-dq\

rf

• r' never occurs in syllable-final position.

WI only occurs in á few words in initial position. Mil is rare.

when W

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

or sometimes

/-o-/

is

pronounced between the two letters ( /pha?/ ), except in most cases with

a ( wa is usually read /phi-/ ) as well as with 1 and

0

considered as dipthong and vowel. Ex:

NU

/phom/

waí» /phlàt/

( hair; I, me -man speaking- ) ( to take turns with, to change places with )

45

t\

/f./ fl fil

/fSo fäa/

( lid, cover )

never occurs in syllable-final position.

- iJ

is rarely directly followed by another consonant in word-initial

position. There are three common words to memorize.

/fon/

( rain ) and

/fontòk/

/fà?rài}/

( the white race of people )

( to rain )

I

/fà?ràgsèet/ (French )

n

/ph-/ /-p/ VI mu

/phoo phaan/

( offering tray )

n^-3lYini

/krugtheep/

( Bangkok )

- V1Î in initial position is usually read /phr-/

Ex:

-

VllQU

/phróom/

( to be ready )

in initial position only occurs in a few words and is usually pronounced /phan/.

-

when V«

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/ or sometimes /o/ is pronounced between the two letters ( /phá?/ ), except in most cases w i t h 0 ( V i a i s usually r e a d / p h i - / ) as w e l l as w i t h 1 a n d 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex:

46

Vltil'ìn

/phá?yaag/

( syllable )

t'\

mn

/phûak/

( crowd, group of people )

•HQ

/phoo/

( enough, sufficient; as soon as )

«

/f-/ l"l

/foo fan/

( tooth )

never occurs in syllable final

position, except in a few loanwords borrowed

from English.

Ex:

-

y\

0Ovlvi«

/?òopfit/

(office)

-vow directly followed by another consonant is rare.

/ph-/ /-p/

fl îîllin

/phoo samphao/

( Chinese junk )

am

/laap/

( acquisition of gain )

- ill

in initial position is usually read /phr-/ or /pha?r. .. / with the

short inherent vowel /-a?/ fll only occurs in a few words.

- fill

in initial position is usually read /phan/ ; it only occurs in a

very few words.

- when

/I

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/ is usually read between the two letters ( /phá?/ ).

47

%i

/ml U in

/moo máa/

( horse )

ÔU

/yim/

( smile, to smile )

IIÎ

in initial position is usually pronounced /má?r. . . / with the

short inherent vowel /-a?/ pronounced between the two letters, but it is rare. tymcil-

two exceptions;

UîflW

/moorá?kót/

(emerald)

UíííU

/m 00 rá?súm/

( raining season )

• in uîï, îî is pronounced

/-a-/ or

/-an/

but only occurs in a few

Words.

when U is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /má?/ ), except with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex;

tJ

UW

/mot/

( ants )

ij-î-î

/mûag/

( purple, violet )

UTnQYimàtl /má?háawitthá?yaalay/

( university )

UO

( grey, ash colour )

/moo/

/y-/

Ö on«

/yoo yak/

( giant, superhuman creatures )

never occurs in final position as a consonant.

48

-a

is a consonant in syllable-initial position.

- U

never occurs in syllable-medial position.

- U

is part of a compound vocalic when in syllable-final position.

- m and

-

when 0

are rare.

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /yá?/ ), except with 1 and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex:

ÜW

/yon/

( to shorten, to abbreviate; wrinkle )

tlun

/yá?mók/

( the mark "«1 " used in Thai writing after a word or a phrase which is to be repeated, a repetition mark ).

Ö0U

H

/yóom/

( to dye )

l-nl

î lî0

/roo r u a /

(boat)

011111

/?aahaan/

( food )

- when î

is a final placed directly after the initial, in a syllable which

does not carry any vocalic symbol, it is pronounced /-oon/. Ex:

VJfll

- when 1

/na?khoon/

(city)

is followed by a consonant in initial position, it follows the

same rules as

U .

- when 1 occurs alone in the middle of a word as the initial of a syllable

49

which does not have any written vocalic, it is pronounced

/ra?/

with the short inherent vowel /-a?/.

Ex: ìJinn

when 11

/mwràkòt/

(emerald)

occurs in syllable-medial position, it has the same value as

the short vowel(--) 1wMt40imfí/máyhán?aakáat/( stick turning in the air ), and is pronounced /-a-/.

Ex: illU

/tham/

(justice; Dharma-Buddhist teaching-)

when 11 occurs in syllable-final position, it is pronounced /-an/

Ex: nillfll

/kankray/

( scissors )

when 11 occurs in syllable-final position followed by another syllable, the second 1 has a double function in some cases. It is the final of the first syllable and the initial of the second.

Ex: flllfJI

/phanra?yaa/

- 11 is called 1 "HTU

¡TOO

( wife, spouse )

hän/

In initial position it mainly occurs in the following combinations:

nil

usually read /kan/

tllJJ

usually read /tham/

1)11

usually read /ban/

when 1 occurs directly after the syllable-initial, it is silent in some cases.

main combinations: nî, Wî, ffî Ex: Tinu

/sâap/

Ifïll ' ' îÎîQtlflQ

\-W'.

-C

( to know )

/sao/ ( to be sad ) a /soykhoo/ (necklace)

' '

one special word beginning with îî ; /jig/

( truth )

REMARK: As shown in the examples given above, when 1 is silent, instead of the initial, î carries all upperscript symboles ( see chapter 12 ). î

0

/!-/

can be silent in syllable-final position ( see pages 117 and 118).

l-nl

a a-î

/bo lii)/

(monkey)

ñma

/tambon/

( district )

-

ai

and

- when

a

ail

rr

are rare.

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/ or /-o-/ is pronounced between the two letters ( /là?/ ), except with 1 and ö considered as dipthong and vowel. Ex; au

/lóp/

( to erase )

au

/lom/

( wind )

ai'î

/lûag/

( to pass by, to slip away -time-; to do violence to )

a€ti

/looy/

( to float) t b9llß-> twb,.

51

/w-/ 1

llinii

/w33 wEEn/

( ring )

never occurs in final position as a consonant.

- 1 is a consonant when in syllable-initial position. -

1

is the dipthong /-ua-/ in syllable-medial position.

- 1 is part of a compound vocalic when in syllable-final position.

- 11 in initial position is usually read /wá?r./ with the short inherent vowel /-a?/, but only occurs in a few words.

-

only occurs in a very few words. one common word; Wfliioij

-

when 1

/waktoon/

( paragraph )

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel /-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /wa?/ ), except with 0 considered as a vowel. Ex; lOVl

Is-I

/wa?run/

( a male first name )

/woon/

( to implore )

l-tl

fi fíiín

/soo saalaa/

also called ft fl

( public rest house )

from its resemblance to the letter fi.

Oimff

/?aakàat/

( air, atmosphere )

llísmíí

/prà?thêet/

( country, nation )

-

in initial position is usually read:

/sa?r.. ./

with the short inherent vowel /-a?/

Ex;

/sà?raawók/

( buddhist monk )

Is-/ then 1 is silent. íOi

••

M

Ex;

V /sii/

(splendor)

f

ii ni äiv : - in fill, 71 is usually pronounced /-a-/, but it only occurs in a few words.

- when fi

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

or sometimes

/-o-/

is

pronounced between the two letters ( /sa?/ ) , except with i and occasionally 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

w

/s-/

/-t/ « I

V

/

V

W qu

/soo rH?sii/ ( hermit devoting his time to meditation )

•WIJ

/phit/

( poison )

- only occurs in a few words as an initial \-ri\

ar

/s-/ if lííO

l-t/ /soo sua/

( tiger )

a

til

53

also called

îT a

lomfl

/?ookàat/

- ÎÏÎ

from its resemblance to the letter a. ( opportunity, occasion )

in initial position is usually read:

/sa?r. . . / with the short inherent /-a?/ Ex:

ffîK

/s-/ then î Ex:

/sà?rà?/

( vocalic, vowel )

is silent. ffîs'îioùi

/sà?wâynàam/

( swimming-pool )

in ÎÏÎ1, 11 is usually read /-a-/ or /-an/, but it only occurs in a few words.

when a

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

or

/-o-/

is pronounced

between the two letters ( /sa?/ ), except with i and 0 considered as dipthong and vowel.

Ex:

tl

íían

/sà?làk/

( to carve )

înu

/suan/

( garden )

aritjîj

/sà?wà?yom/

( oneself; voluntarily )

ae-î

/s Sa g/

( two )

/h-/

M Ml)

/ h h hiip/

( trunk, box )

never occurs in final position.

54

B

this letter corresponds to a puff.

M

is placed before eight G3 sonorants which do not have their

equivalent in 02 to change their characteristics, therefore changing the tone of the syllable when required:

is then called

tÎi

yt

ty, 14, U, ö, 7, n

and

/h3o nam/.

I

Ex:

/nng/

( one )

Ì1JJ1

/maa/

(dog)

liTnV4

/wÉEn/

( ring )

i

V

Ml

in initial position is usually read:

.

'

/ha?r. . . / with the short inherent vowel /-a?/, but it only occurs in a few words.

when M

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, it is either:

e

M 141

placed before one of the eight G3 sonorants given above.

4^ MJJ

/mii/

( bear)

M\|

/muu/

( pig )

Mil«

/yut/

( to stop )

/yâa/

( grass or low herb )

v

Mtyi

V

55

OR:

>1 MU

used as the syllable initial directly followed by the final

with the short inherent vowel /-o-/ pronounced between the two letters as in /hòk/

W

Mfl

( six ), but it is only found in a few words.

/!-/

/-n/

Vf ^VTI

/Ioojii?Iaa/

( star-shaped kite )

îlflVÎ

/lá?ktemy

( walking stick )

- this letter is now nearly obsolete.

0

/?-/

0 01>3

/?oo ?aai)/

(bucket) '

»

•

never occurs in final position as a consonant. - 0

is a consonant in syllable-initial position. It is silent and is only

used to carry the vocalic when a pure vocalic value is required, as vocalics never occur alone nor in syllable-initial position.

- 0

is a vowel when in syllable-medial position.

- 0

is a vowel or part of a compound vocalic when in syllable-final

position.

- 01

in imtial positron is usually read with the short inherent vowel

/-a?/ between the two letters.

Ex:

56

010Ü

/?à?rò y/

( delicious )

- 011

-

in initial position only occurs in a few words.

when 0

is directly followed by another consonant, in word-initial

position, the short inherent vowel

/-a?/

is usually pronounced

between the two letters ( /?a?/ ), except with 1

and Ô considered

as dipthong and vowel.

Ex;

01int)

/?à?thi?baay/

( to explain )

0144

/?à?nHg/

( besides )

oi4£yin

/?à?nù?yâat/

( to allow )

eon

/?wk/

( t6 go out or away )

J

I

- when 0 occurs in front of the fouf following words, it is called 0 Wi p.oo nam/ and changes the characteristics of fj.

0f)i

/yàa/

(donot...)

0t)in

/yàak/

( ^ want to )

Oill'l

/yàag/

( soft, kind )

051

/yuu/

( to siay, to live, to be at )

/h-/ 8 T4f1§n

/hoo nókhuuk/

( owl )

never occurs in syllable-final position.

- this letter only occurs in a few words in initial position.

57

8) the six consonant phonetic values in syllable-final position: Eight consonant letters are never found in syllable-final position: Vt,

t),

1,

0

and 8.

ii, N,

( when Í), T and 0 occur in final position, they are

not considered as consonants ). Among the twenty-one consonant phones which exist in syllable-initial position, only six are found in syllable-final position:

/-k/,

/-p/, /-t/

or dead

endings and /-m/, /-n/, /-q/ or live endings. LIVE endings

DEAD endings -K/-G K-andKH-

-N

-P/-B

-T/-D

P-andPH-

T-andTH-

N-

ij

D

M

9

n

n

n

S

V *1

B-

u

U

-M II

01

n

F-

-V

Y-

cy

R-

î

L-

ei

r «1 •n

M

I J- and CH-

« K

01 S-

ii fl u K

D-

« Q

58

m

CHAPTER 6 TWO SETS OF SPECIAL LETTERS.

In addition to vocalics and consonants there are four symbols which each represent a combination of a consonant and a vowel sound.

They come from

Sanskrit and appear in the consonant alphabet. They follow the same tone rules as G3 consonants.

is the only oiie the student might ever encounter. can have three different pronunciations depending on the word in whichit is met: /ri?/ as in

O^nqw

/?a5knt/

( English )

t)g

/rH?duu/

( season )

£)nM

It99kl

( auspicious time )

/ro?/ as in It99I as in

occurs as the initial in a few words, as: qg

/rH?duu/

( season )

ti«

/raîsii/

( holy man )

^

occurs as the second componant of Gl or G3 clusters or groupings: Wtin

/trit/

( to set free )

UtjH

/má?rá?tú?/ ( to be soft, delicate ) I"' A

occurs between î and a in the consonant alphabetical order.

'¿aHT (fc

: can only be pronounced /m«/. is now very rarely used.

. iisiio Ú î!

occurs between q and a in the alphabetical order.

Í)

and fin are practically obsolete nowadays. 59

CHAPTER? SPECIAL SYMBOLS

1) THE REPETITION SYMBOL:

T

tiUfl

/yá?mók/

It is used to show that the previous word or group of words is to be repeated. A space is to be left before and after «] . Ex:

ilot)

/boy/

(often)

UOO 1

/ h o yb Ò y/

( very often )

2) THE ABBREVIATION SYMBOL:

"{

MtJitJUetJ

/phá?yaannóoy/

It is used to abbreviate long names. A space is to be left before and after Ex:

.

/krugtheep/

(Bangkok)

/krugthéepprá?má?haana?khoon/

3) THE "ETC..." SYMBOL:

101

VltJ1Vll"Hty

/pha?yaanyay/

When spoken it is pronounced very short /la?/. A space is to be left before and after iai . 4) THE SILENCE SYMBOL:

-

mf'U«

/kaaran/

It is often used above a word-final consonant when it is not pronounced. Then the letter does not interfere in the tone of the syllable. This symbol is discussed in chapter "Silence with and without silence marker", chapter 14.

60

EXERCISE 1

This first exercise covers monosyllabic words pronounced in the middle tone to help the student concentrate on both vocalic and consonant alphabets, on the position of each vocalic, on the most common consonants used as live consonantendings, and on the pronunciation of each letter.

1) METHOD: A) Transcribe the phonetic value of each word in the space provided, keeping the answers covered until you have completed the exercise. B) Read each word aloud, trying to exaggerate the length of short and long vowels. C) Cover up each word ( left column ) and find the right spelhng with the help of the phonetics. ..'''••ft -f isUju

2) NOTES:

There are no intricate consonant combinations. There are no inherents. Words are given in the dictionary alphabetical order rofj. 3) ADVICE:

A)

Uff

Do not skip any part of the exercise as it is a perfect practice to recognize

syllables and thus be able to apply the tone rules and separate words in sentences. B) Do not memorize word meanings at this stage, it would not help you now as you are working on writing, spelling and pronouncing words! 61

EXERCISE

/. ../

( kettle; crow )

/. ../

( to scratch, to scrape with nails... ) /kao/

ìnw

/. .../

( to shave )

/koon/

«î

/. . . . . /

(teacher )

/khruu/

net)

/. . . . . /

( to wait )

/khooy/

m im

/

/kaa/

«1 4 no

/. . . . /

( word, mouthful )

/kham/

/. . . . /

( named, called )

/khua/

noi

/. . . . /

( when placed before a person's name /khun/

•

this word shows additional respect ) qa

/. .../

( to chat )

/khuy/

ma-1

/. . . . . /

( contiguous; near )

/khiag/

IflU

/. . . . . /

( lamp )

/khoom/

40

/.

( to bend; bent, curved )

l^ool

•Î1

/. ./

( sesame; ivory )

/gaa/

/. ./

(snake )

/ijuu/

Ñu

/. ./

( money; silver )

/g»n/

«IVI

/.

( plate )

/jaan/

•au

/..

( Chinese )

/jiin/

líOT

/ • •

./

( defeated, finished, ruined )

/jer)/

/ . •

.. /

( ta fry out the fat )

/jiao/

VITI

/.. . . . /

( to persuade, to influence )

/chuan/

HA

/..

( to hate, tOk^dislike )

/chag/

•wn

/..

( citizens or inhaljiitaiits of )

/chaao/

€u

/..

( to taste, to try )

/chim/

lîty

/.. . . . /

( to,bid; courteously to come^ )

/chaan/

/..

( to drill», to pierce )

/chay/

VU

/.

EXERaSE

ANSWER

( to absorb; to be drowsy )

/sum/

IVA

./

( tasteless )

/sei)/

fUW

.../

( contemplation, meditative

/chaan/

T

absorption )

../

tyiQi

( supernatural power, higher degree

/yaan/

of knowledge derived from meditation )

IfUl

../

( novices in the Buddhist priesthood ) /neen/

«00

../

( to tie )

/ (boy/

./

( pair of scales )

/dun/

1«014

( month )

/duan/

11«-]

( bright red )

/dEEg/

h

/. . /

( who, whoever; aiiy; what )

/day/

nou

/.

( part; paragraph )

/toon/

tñ

/. . /

( body; classifier for animals

illou

/.

( to warn )

/tuan/

1104

/. . . . /

( gold )

/thooT)/

mo

/. . . . /

( to predict )

/thaay/

Til

/.

( to do, to make )

/tham/

m

/.

( to pour )

/thee/

/. . . . /

( candle )

/thian/

110

/.

( you, he -familiar- )

/th99/

lUO

/.

( butter )

/n99y/

IU0O

/.

( apathetic )

/nuay/

iiiii

/.

( line, row )

/nEEo/

VI

/. . /

( collective name for lotus and water /bua/

f mou

)

/tua/

lilies )

UIJU

/..

( flat, even )

/bEEn/

63

lu

/. • • /

EXERCISE

ANSWER

( designatory particle for leaves,

/bay/

round hollow objects ) ij

/. . /

( crab )

/puu/

ÎI

/. . /

(year)

/pii/

111

/. . /

( to go )

/pay/

VI0

/. . . /

( enough; as soon as )

/phoo /

•w-î

/. . . /

( to tumble down, to be in a ruinous /phag/ condition )

/

tooth )

/fan/

/

fire )

/fay/

./

danger)

./

act of boxing )

/muay/

ui d u

to come )

/maa/

there is.. ; to have )

/mii/

UVI

to be slightly dizzy )

/man/

U0

hand )

/moo/

tun

drunk )

/mao/

fJTJ

long -in length- )

/yaao/

llfJU

to leam, to study )

/rian/

119

boat )

/roa/

lio

shelter, habitation )

/rooq/

riu

a/

nt) Ult)

àÊt

Í1-311Ü14

,;

/roogrian/

( school )

HOfJ

/.

to flöat )

/boy/

au

/.

to forget; to open -eyes- )

/luom/

approximately -roughly- )

/lao lao/

day )

/wan/

tai n V

TU

64

/phay/ •t

/.../

EXERCISE

ANSWER

ni

!..

( bright, shining )

/waao/

m

!..

( in turns, by shift )

/ween/

OTE)

!..

( to give, to grant )

/?uay/

00U

!..

( to save up )

Poxti/

101

!... /

( to want;. .. )

/?ao/

EXERCISE part 2: A) Find the group of each initial. Which group is missing ?

'•

B) Lx)ok for all the short vowels, what do all syllables have in common ?

01 j3idbx{0 ui paurejdxa sb 'auo; aippxui aip

ui paounouojd aq ubo 3|qBnXs jo adXj ureyao b X^uo

SMoqs aspjaxa siqx sSxnpua

juBuosuoo SAij qjiM saiqByiXs pasop ui jnooo sXbmib s^moa jjoqs ^B aisH (9

•âuisstul st

ZO (V

^ C"i ,.wiCI-0î»eîfiv

H3MSMV

65

CHAPTER 8 CONSONANTS WITH TWO FUNCTIONS IN WORD-MEDIAL POSITION

( This chapter is still too intricate at this stage and should not be considered before studying chapter 12. )

1) GENERAL CASES: In some cases a word-medial consonant is pronounced twice: first as the final of the preceding syllable and then as the initial of the following syllable pronounced with the inherent /-a?/. Examples. /thammá?daa/

( ordinary )

/pòkkà?tì?/

( normal )

/màyjàttà?waa/

( third tonal marker )

îSuin

/ràtthà?baan/

( government )

àiilpiTH •

/sàppà?daa/

( week )

QMtJVI

/?òpphà?yóp/

( to migrate )

owöwmmQO •

/?c)pphá?yópkháomuag/ ( to immigrate )

iln« M Pu

* A dot has been placed below the consonant with two functions. 2) SPECIAL CASES: As there are only six final consonant phones ( /-k/, /-p/, /-t/ and /-m/, /-n/, /-g/, ), several consonants which have two functions in word-medial position are pronounced according to both their initial and final phonetic value. Examples: /kitjà?wàt/ ( routine ) Here î is silent ( see chapter 14 ). inuniflî

66

/kà?sèettrà?koon/ (agriculture)

/

ì«iJiatin

/khootsà?naa/

( advertisement, announcement; to advertise )

walw

/phonlá?máay/

( fruit )

uaij

/monlá?rát/

( state ) as in

trvifj

/sà?hà?ràt/

( United States ) ffliiUI

/sàatsà?naa/

( religion )

3) REMARKS: a) 4, ly, W, 1 and single

î

are never found in medial position with the

double function. b) The tone rules are applied just as if there were two letters. v.

nOi

'i! •",¿0

.\l-\ fans \q-\

- '-k- 'bn • i.îU.;K. •

tifid;: :if

¿jir,

>i

> ur.i;. b:.'
r--', ni -UA-Oril "•iî'i

'

'• • .

^Vt;

. J."!.,' • '-ieaov ovil .

'V/jî .i,

>:s'uT Oil',;! >0î 'Çlqqii o:

67

CHAPTER 9 SYLLABLES

1) GENERALITIES:

As each syllable has its own pronunciation according to its spelling, it is most important to be able to divide words into syllables. This might sound rather difficult at first but soon becomes a reflex. A) The initial is always a consonant. B) A syllable is either

open

; ending in a vocalic phone

or closed

: ending in a consonant phone.

C) Open syllables with no written vocalic: the inherent /-a?/ or I- oo I is to be

pronounced after the initial. Oosed syllables with no written vocalic : the inherent /-o-/ is to be pronounced

between the two consonants. D) A syllable is either dead or Mre. Dead endings:

dead consonant endings : /-k/, /-p/ and /-t/. dead vocalic endings

: all short vowels.

Live endings:

live consonant endings : /-m/, /-n/ and /-ï)/. live vocalic endings

: long vowels; dipthongs and tripthongs.

It is most important to make the distinction between live and dead syllables to be able to apply the tone rules.

68

2) PHONETIC TRANSCRIPTION OF LIVE AND DEAD SYLLABLES: Vocalic symbols do not always take the same position as their phones but consonants do.

lœAD SYLLABLES

a)

UVE SYLLABLES

inherent /-a?/ ] consonant +

( short vowel

b)

e) consonant + long vocalic

J

inherent /-o-/] consonant +

inherent l-o-¡

0

\+ DCE

consonant +

short vowel

+ LCE short vowel

c) C + LV + Dead Consonant Ending

g) C + LV + live Consonant Ending

3) HOW TO SEPARATE SYLLABLES: Although it is not always possible to fell where syllables end, there are several indications to bear in mind. A) Upper and underscript symbols are only carried by initials: Examples: o

d

,

V

/nam khEi)/

( ice )

lliùhvi

/pay bâan/

{ to go home )

íTiñty

/sära khan/

( to be important )

soi éluokiì í .î * '-"h ti "U..

Exceptions; When the initial is double all symbols are (Ca«iÉfl'í5y
69

/klay/

^

^

/Plàao/

(to be empty)

/Phrüjnii/..

(tomorrow)

!

ii ;

.',

• See page 28 for the length of the vocalic phone. B) Some vocalic lette., have their o„„ p„ia„„ i„

i-, -0-, '

i"o"nd in closed syllables.

-Ï, 1-0Ï, t-0,

o .

open syllables.

found in

1."?r

-r::nr

in Dotft closed and open syllables.

Examples:

lîJO 491

wift» ) /mia/ ( wife

.í—. jfyij

/rua/ (boat) /" hnof \ /raa/

4 IM0W

D) Eight consonants

/rian/

(school)

/phuan/

( friend )

never occur in syllable-final position:

W, fJ, n, 0,

Q and 9.

NOTE:

vocalicri" "ii aJusJd IT^." E) Initials followed by an inherent:

/-a?/ : /•o-/

initial never carries any tonal marker,

: the initial carries a

••

70

the

'he

toilial never

tonal marker when required.

carries any tonal raariter.

EXERCISE 2

f-firtffì 1) METHOD:

; »in

A) Transcribe the phonetic value of each word with the tones, on a paper, keeping the space provided for the exercise and the answers covered up. Divide each word into syllables with the help of the preceding mies.

Fill in the space provided for the phonetic transcription, keeping the answers covered up.

A gap has been left between each syllable to show clearly their

characteristics: open or closed, live or dead vocalic ending, live or dead consonant ending. B)

Read each word aloud, trying to exaggerate the loigth of 4tae°s}K>rt;and long

vowels. C) Cover up each word ( left column ) and find its right spelling with the help of the phonetics.

Whenever you do not know whether a consonant belongs to G2 or 03

leave a gap, finish writing the word and check the answer. D) Give the type of syllable in the space specially provided. -

îi ö n I»

2) NOTE:

.C C ^ i.4

ííma A) There are no inherents, no consonant groupings B) Do not forget to look in chapter S, paragraph 7, for the consonants which trouble you. C) Most of the syllables are pronounced in the middle tone. When it is not the case, the tone is given

( always placed above the first vocalic phonetic element of the

syllable ).

71

EXERCISE

í a8î::M:iX3

ANSWER

fn-lin-1

/kaai) keei)/

/11/

( trousers )

nW1

/

/

/../

(sport)

insfis

I.). .\.l

/••/

( disorderly, in the way )/ke? kà?/

/

/• • /

( written invitation )

/kham chaan/ /11/

/. . /

(to chat together )

/khuy kan/ /l 1/

/../

( salary, wage )

/gan daan//11/

/,....../

/. . /

( total, amount, quantity ) /jam nuan/ /11/

I

/../

(soda)

/soodaa/

/• • /

(to travel )

/daan thaag/ /I V

qi)nV4

ílT4'31í

.../

/

/

/

/

.

/ • /

/kiilaa/

/11/ /dd/

/II/

IWUYIH

/

yil41U

/......./

/.. /

(to work )

/tham gan/ /11/

lJ4l0ty

/.

/.. /

( accidentally )

/bag ?een/

UUUU1-5

/.'.

I--I

( frail, fragile )

/bEEp baag//d 1/

lunoi

/

I

I- • I

( ancient )

/boo raan/

/11/

iJisg

I . .\ . . . . I

I . .I

( door )

/pra? tuu/

/d 1/

iJîïUItU

/• • '•

/• • /

( about, approximatively ) /pra? maan/ /d 1/

litytyi

! . . . . . .!

/.. /

( reason, intelligence )

/pan yaa/

^ /

/.. /

( t o compare )

/piiap thiap//d d/

/

I..I

( to be satisfied )

/phoo jay/ /II/

nJlOUlYÍtJll Vi0lsi

/

/ /

/

/

/11/

/11/

/. . ./(tobebusy )

Imüthul A"!!¡ i d d i

tiuôu

/

I

/. ./

(toconfirm )

/yuanyan/ /11/

îlfn

I

/

/../

(price)

/raakhaa/

/II/ /11/

I

I

I . .I

( school )

/rooi) rian/

I

/

/• • /

( hotel )

/roog rEEm//l 1/

¡..I

(hand-writing)

/laaymaa/

amilo

/.

gnntyiifl

/• ^

72

I /

/.../( key )

/luuk kun jEE/

/II/ /d 11/

EXERCISE

ANSWER

anillulvl

/

/.../( passionate; to burst

/lúk pen fay//d 11/

into flames ) esll

/.. /

liovjim

/

.'..../

Îemîï

/.../.../

( what? )

/?a? ray/

/d 1/

/.../( Africa )

/?EE frf? kaa//l d 1/

/../

/?oo Icàat/

( opportunity, chance )

/I d/

EXERCISE part 2;

A) Compare phonetics of live and dead syllables. What do you notice ? B) What group of initial is missing ? C) To which grtNip belongs the initial of dead syllabies pronounced in the low tone ? To which group belongs the initial of dead! syllables pronounced in the high tone ? To which group belongs the initial of dead syllables pronounced in the falling tone ? D)

What difference is there between dead syllables pronounced in the high

tone and the falling tone ?

s

ûiî-,iOîïU^a

:Tvv

íftííf.

r

,'

is-

i.

,• •

•

;w

u: ,;r'; mjq'fjs íouí.-

: • . •

^ " ,

•

:

•

''i • ^ ÍÍU!' -,

• •

- T / - r . i 1,-

•, ^ ' • „ • ^ e r

73

n

ANSWER: A) No dead syllable is pronounced in the middle tone. B) G2 is misnng C) 01 G3 G3 D) Here dead syllables pronounced in the high tone are built up of; 03 + SV + dead consonant-ending Here dead syllables pronounced in the falling tone are built up of: 03 + LV + dead consonant-ending

REMARK: B)

As explained in the following chapter, when syllables have a 02 initia^ they are never pronounced in the middle tone.

A) C) D) are explained in the next chapter.

;

Q

iq e s q

;./!• -'ìf-s:-;; Of jiAS "Ì frrssjq

f i fp j e ; ' t c o • • • '

// p'íí'í'; !

ryifÀ'

:

f

'\^on

, 'K. í.Vt:

-•'•'Ufft'.to-poiííí' ;

í'yl:

' fe Ko-, í *

• ,1 tii,

CHAPTER 10 THEFIVETONES

1) GENERALITIES:

In spoken Thai tones are integral parts of words, giving them their unmistakable meaning. Although there are four tonal markers, which do not always represent the same tone, none of them is necessary for a syllable to be pronounced in one of the five tones, as shown in the exercises considered in the previous chapter. Therefore when reading Thai, the reader must be fully áware öf íhé "three syllable characteristics given below, to give each syllable its connect tone.

Íi

A) The syllable-initial carries a tonal marker.

There are two things to consider: - the class of the initial consonant ( Gl, G2 or G3 ). - the tonal marker. Remark: the length of the vocalic and the type of ending do not interfere. B) The syllable initial does not carry any tonal marker. There are two possibilities: a) Open syllables: two things to consider.

.A

, f

'

•

- the class of the initial consonant. - the length of the vocalic.

, o¡, I.

) "i. • ' '

^

b) Closed syllables: two or three things to consider. - the class of the initial consonant. - the length of the vocalic, when the initial consonant belongs to G3 and the final phone is /-k/, /-p/ or /-t/ ( dead consonant-ending ). - the type of consonant ending ( live or dead ).

75

2) THE FOUR TONAL MARKERS:

«i J.|®

A) Their position: They are written above the right side of the initial consonant of the syllable whose tone they mark. When the syllable-initial is double the tonal marker is placed above the second consonant

EVEN THOUGH THE TONE IS GOVERNED BY THE FIRST

CONSONANT. When the initial consonant already carries an upperscript symbol the tonal marker is placed above it. Tonal markers never occur above

M 141

and 0 UI.

B) Their name: I V C« -

III n mion in ifcf IJJITI «1 I' 'I mill

/máy?éek/

: te««»

s

/máythoo/

i

oi

/máytrii/ /màyjàttà?waa/

-

The last two tonal markers only occur with Gl initial consonants. They are very rare and mostly found in onomatopoeias, particles and recent loan-words.

C) Their value; -

-

, .(•giii-

76

-

above Gl or G2

low

tone

above G3

falling

tone

above Gl or G2

falling

tone

above G3

high

tone

above Gl

high

tone

above G2 or G3

NEVER OCCURS

abov&Gl

rising

aboveüG2 or G3

NEVER OCCURS

tone

3) THE 5 TONES WITHOUT TONAL MARKERS: A) With Gl initials:

- live ending

middle

tone

- dead ending

low

tone

- live ending

rising

tone

^ dead ending

low

tone

B) With G2 initials:

-tew it! C) With G3 initials:

•fis.'--

'

- live ending

middle

tone

i*.

- dead ending - Short Vowel alone or followed by a dead fmal-consonant : high

tone.

- Long Vocalic followed by a dead final-consonant : falling

tone .

4) RECAPITULATIVE CHART: (the middle tone never occurs with tonal markers) LIVE syllables A INITIAL CONSONANT

l¿ien

B y IIHTI

/máy?éek/ / máythoo/

GI

\

A

G2

\

A

G3

A

c ey My ^ luflí /máytrii/

/

O

E

•

LV /màyjàttà?waa/ (OS)

V

—

F

G

H

/-m/

SV

/-k/ /-p/ /- 1/ (C:s) SV LV

/-n/ /-o/ (CS) —

V

/

—

DEAD syllables

or short Inherent (OS)

I

\

\

\

\

\

\

/

—

5) CHART ILLUSTRATION: ru

Gl initials:

Sif A

In

/kay/

( chicken )

B

11114

/bâan/

( house, home )

Uf" ÍÁ

77

c

Int

/to?/

( table )

D

m

/kâa/

( to be bold, audacious )

E

ü

/dii/

( alright, well, good )

F

ñw

/kin/

( to eat )

G

«ï

/jà?/

( will, shall )

H

illn

/dèk/

( child )

I

iJm

/pàak/

( mouth )

1«

/khày/

(egg)

/phS^/

(bee)

G2 Mtials. A

-'çSCÇV- .Ä- ' Si«-, •: C D E

th

/faa/

( lid, cover )

F

gfl

/sííug/

( tall )

G

ÎJ

/phù?/

{ rotten )

H

vin

/hòk/

( six )

1

wu

/hiip/ . •

,

.

( trunk, box ) ,

. ,

.

,

G3 initi^iis:

..

•

r.r

^

A

Î-K

/soo/

( chain for animals )

B

liai

/lEEo/

{ already, . . . )

ilo

/rua/

( small boat )

"• • •

' A .

-

ä^iVfßnr..

:

c D E

78

•?

. it ¿

F

ÎÎ1

/nam/

(to lead )

G

Mt

/ná?/

( final particle often used for "please" )

H

tan

/lek/

( little )

I

tu«

/mêek/

( storm cloud )

6) SUBSTITUTES FOR THE TWO MISSING TONES WITH G2 AND G3 INITIALS: A) With G2 initials: As the MIDDLE TONE and the HIGH TONE dò not exist with G2 initials the required consonant must be changed to its common equivalent in G3 when the syllable is to be pronounced in the middle or high tone. B) With G3 initials: a) As the LOW TONE and the RISING TONE do not exist with G3 initials, the required consonant must be changed to its common equivalent in G2 when the syllable is to be pronounced in the low or rising tone. b) BUT the ten sonorants do not have their equivalent in G2, therefore VI is written before the initial to convert it and change the tone of the syllable when required. M

is then called M WI

/h5o nam/ and does not carry any symbol.

All symbols are written above or under the true initial. Eight sonorants are convertible:

-î, Ql, V4, îJ, ü, î, a, 1.

Two sonorants are never converted:

{y, W.

Examples; VIU-)

/nan/

( one )

T1JJ1

/mäa/

( dog )

•Has«

/loot/

(tube, pipe)

REMARK; ( see pages 57 and 80 ) e 141

iWIT (8

• jv; i

'

•

')

<

converts t) into a middle consonant in 4 monosyllabic words.

7) GENERAL REMARKS; - The middle tone never occurs in dead syllables. - As tonal markers are used to change the tone of the syllable, they do not occur when the latter is already pronounced in the required tone.

79

Imon (-) is never used on Gl or G2 initials when the syllable is dead as it is already pronounced in the low tone. Imon (-) is never used on G3 initials when the syllable is dead with a long medial vocalic as it is already pronounced in the falling tone.

llilyi ( — ) is never used on G3 initials when the syllable is dead with a short medial or final vowel as it is already pronounced in the high tone.

- As M vìi changes the characteristics of eight sonorants when the syllable is to be pronounced in the LOW or RISING TONE,

0 Ui

converts fJ to

change the tone of the syllable in the four following monosyllabic words:

0fjl

/yàa/

( do not.. . )

0fjin

/yàak/

( t o want to )

001-3

/yàai}/

( kind of, sort of, category )

oy

/yùu/

( to live at, to be at, to stay at )

8) THE THREE CONSONANT GROUPS AND THE FOUR TONAL MARKERS:

Gl)

G1 + Live ending

all markers are used ( 5 tones )

Gl + Dead ending

all markers are used but

- ( the low tone is

automatically obtained in dead syllables with Gl initials ) G2)

G2 + Live ending

only two markers are used

( 3 tones; the

middle and the low tone are missing )* Jon

G2 + Dead ending

80

the tonal markers are RARE

G3)

GS + Live ending

only two markers are used ( 3 tones; the low and the rising tone are missing )*

G3 + Dead ending

Short Vowels:

i occasionally occurs in

particles ( RARE ) Long Vocalics:

all markers are RARE.

1. i

~

occasionally occurs in

recent English loanwords. 'À'i'ìJi, r .^ ' iigri gli bfiiî üfiiä i 1 (¡

with

—

the vocalic is

usually read short (RARE). f _ G2 : The two missing tones are obtained with G3 initial consonants when required G3 . The two missing tones are obtained with

h; -'nn i p M & f S t ì m f O ì

M ill

or 9 UI.

; - r^nr w

tuís-J

' Oro ÍO Oj ?:suol3d ißiJtni «fi. rtáíí«*'roi 1

,

( t ' j t í w 9 t t O t s a t i h i •ü'PÍ i.-y m r !

•'

t'UZfíi'iX f

surr;;

'iklßSiY^ ( worj

¡ •

ir io i/siîfiii ¡D \

. .s

m "W

í riícw

i

; '.'i ,

X(ni OJ ,i''¡i'

,

, \ \

'í'miti Oí ;Yhs3f7 /rjv

^

' ^ '

!•

,!)ÍSlJ j;í o U

f YQqfiií b-í¿ÍJ5íq ;VÍ ;;j )

. ,V \

- -uüá>

•

'-

woffi

_ P'áw- •

yf

'

íí

\^,

\ . . . . . .\

\

ilft

'•

^

81

'

: EXERCISE 3

-

1) METHOD: A) Transcribe the phonetic value of each ( monosyllabic ) word, and its tone, in the space provided, with the help of the previous recapitulative chart, keeping the answers covered until you have completed the exercise. B) Read each word aloud, trying to exaggerate the length of vocalics and the tones. C) Cover up each word ( left column ) and find its right spelling with the help of the phonetics. D) Cover up the phonetics and read each word aloud. 2) REMARKS: - live syllables which do not carry any tonal marker are pronounced in; the middle tone when the initial belongs toGl the rising tone when the initial belongs to G2 - dead syllables which do not carry any tonal marker are pronounced in: the low tone when the initial belongs to Gl or G2 the high tone or the falling tone when the iflitial belongs to G3. EXERCISE

ANSWER

Gl initial of a live syllable:

m

./

nu

/.. . /

( t o eat )

/kin/

«114

/..

( plate, dish; to mix with water )

/jaan/

lit)V4

/..

( almost, very nearly; to trim )

/jian/

/.../

( mind, feelings.

Ü

( kettle; crow )

./

/kaa/

)

Imi

( good, well )

/ . . . . .. / /... 82

e

/dii/

( to be kind, good )

/jaydü/ ^

/diijay/

ANSWER

EXERCISE

/. . . . /

( to walk; in compound words it can mean

/deen/

a

" to go by mechanical means " )

mou

/. . . . /

( to turn -the face away- )

/buan/

liJ

/.

( to go )

/pay/

/.

( to conceal )

/?am/

e

01

Gl initial of a dead syllable: m/

...

•ílíislif?, Ü(í*ÍU

nu

/.

( with, together; and )

/kap/

mis

/.

( island )

/kb?/

/.

( will, shall )

/jà?/

/. . . . /

( fresh -as water-; tasteless; uninteresting )

/jòut/

iu

/.

( raw, unripe, half-cooked )

/dip/

m

/.

( to cut, to severe )

Ititi

<* n

/.

( putrid, rotten )

ItnV

lîl«

/. . . . /

( to open, to switch on )

IP99tl

non

/. . . . /

( to tell )

/book/

IUIÏ:

/.

( cushion )

/bò?/

/. . . . /

{ t o immerse )

/?àap/

•a

Olli

OIUllRfl

/?àap dEEt/

G2 initial of a live syllaUe: lÍJOU

/. . . . /

( t o write )

"ül

/. • • /

(leg )

a/ ftU

, /. . . /

(I)

/chan/

00

/. . . /

( t o hold, t o carry b y hand; t o belive i n )

/thuu/

04

/. .. /

( bag, poach )

/thug/

HOU

/. . . . /

( to be thin, slim )

/khian/ : JlKV.-

/khaa/

.. -y

/phoom/

WÄ»

ANSWER

EXERCISE

/.../

( dream; to dream )

/fan/

îiifj

/..../

( pretty )

/suay/

A tn

/. .. /

( pimple )

VÌ14

/.../

( stone )

/.../

( head )

«/

Ml

• ''<

/sm/ /hin/

•

^

/hua/

G2 initial of a dead syllable. nn«

/

/

( bottle )

/khùat/

V<ñ

/

/

( t o draw, to make lines )

/khìit/

V

«u

/..../

( urgent, requiring haste )

/chap/

gn

/...../

( correct, right )

/thùuk/

/..../

( mild form of imperative when added to a

/thà?/

mos

verb )

~ '' • '

«/

Nf)

( to fry; to postpone )

/phàt/

H«

/..../

( wrong, mistaken )

/phìt/

ílfl

/..../

( moving with difficulty )

/fùut/

A íí

/.../

( imperative word used to strengthen a

/sì?/

statement ) ÎJ«

/.../

( end, conclusion )

/sut/

lîn

/..../

( t o break )

/hàk/

G3 imtial of a live syllable; 000

/.S... /

( t o wait )

/khooy/

fjtu

/..../

( word used in front of names to show

/khun/

additional respect ) ( bowl, dish )

/chaam/

M %

( Buddhist nun )

/chii/

YÎI

( to do, to make )

/tham/

K1U

/

84

,

-"'f

EXERCISE

ANSWER

mow

/

mo

/..../

( you, he -familiar- )

ri0

/..../

( enough; as soon as )

no

/..../

( danger)

iïu

/

(firewood)

Ñu

/.../

( money, silver )

tuo

/..../

( cheese )

lUU

/.../

( wife )

imi

/..../

( cat )

/mEEo/

tuu

/.../

( cool, cold )

/yen/

ÎIU

/..../

( to collect or gather together; amount,

/ruam/

0/

d

/

/

(candie)

r»

/thian/ ^

r^

Ith aal

/ph 00 /

w m . . " 'Mi''"' *•

/phay/ /fuun/

' ííÁj! oí )

/gan/ /naay/

itwoi; V^;í pi

/mia/

-'•-sii;* ^ i '

quantity )

171

/.../

( quickly, speedily )

2I0U

/..../

(to float)

11

/.../

( prompt, agile )

/reo/ t

/I ooy/

'

G3 initial of a dead syllable WITH SHORT VOWEL:

'

/way/ '

IfiQï

/..../

( awkward )

Ikhall

m

/..../

( to think )

/khit/

1"»«

/..../

( to clean by wiping or rubbing )

1 chéti

Tjn

/..../

( each, every )

/thiík/

ñu

/..../

( poison )

/pit/

A../

( to seize with the teeth )

ImPl

INS

/.../

( to extract, to pick out )

/gE?/

us

/.../

( final syllable equal to "please" in certain

Inali

interrogative sentences ) mm

/.../

( metre )

lUU

/.../

( to sew, to stitch; to string together )

Here

*> is silent.

/met/ /yep/

ANSWER

EXERCISE

/.../

( to put or move forward )

/rúk/

an

'/.../

( deep )

/iBk/

mn

/.../

( little, small )

/lek/

-y«

/.../

( wat, temple )

/wat/

G3 initial of a dead syllable WITH LONG VOWELS; DIPTHONGS OR TRIPTHONGS:

uou

/.. ../

( to like )

/chSop/

now

/.. ../

( to fry; to lay down something )

/thhtl

iJ«

/.. ../

( to speak )

/phuut/

iljn

!.. . /

{mattress )

/fûuk/

lu

/••

( to take a nap )

/i)iip/

imu

/.. ./

( to come closer to )

Ufi

/.. ./

( knife )

/mut/

./

( to stretch out; stretched, extended )

/yuttt/

./

( foundations; roots )

/niak/

( to touch affectionately )

/luup/

d Ufi

. V -- ^/..

îin gu 9U

./

/.. ./

. /••

./

» O' -

/nEEp/

( to pass like a shot, to disappear instantly ) /wûup/

ftp HIT yl'

;5n^

HiCfu

15 \l ym \

, .Jíií/iíi; a / , ! îàjiî^igoLSnhTs Pi;:,,íf5ííl.

86

EXERCISE 4 > ílMÜ ftl" t) NOTE: Now you should be able to recognize dead and live syllables as well as Gl, G2 and G3 initials at first sight. You should also know the entire alphabet by heart. The following exercise is general. It gives monosyllabic and compound words in alphabetical order. 2) METHOD: A)

Transcribe the phonetic value of each word with the tones, on a paper,

keeping the space provided for the exercise and the answers covered up. Fill in the space provided for the phonetic transcription. As a first approach to the construction of compound words, a space has been left between the phonetics of each word. B) Read each word aloud, trying to exaggerate the length of short and long vocalics, being aware of the tones. C) Cover up the phonetics and read each word aloud after writing it at least twice. 3) REMARKS: A) Inherent vowels, 0

and M lîl have been introduced in this exercise.

If you still have difficulties after thinking of each rule, check in the dictionary before looking at the answer as it is time to start using dictionaries! B) It is also recommended to have at hand a copy of the tone chart if you do not have all the tones in mind. C) Do not skip any of the procedure nor words to work on as it is a perfect practice to read and pronounce Thai quickly.

ANSWER

EXERCISE I

( Bangkok )

/krugtheep/

intuii

/

/

( upstairs )

/khâag bon/

íi-íán-i

I

./

( downstairs )

/khâag lâag/

f

87

ANSWER

EXERCISE

behind )

/khaai) lag/

I

horse riding )

/khii maa/

./

belt )

/khem khàt/

light green )

/khïao "ìoon/

I V

•UUI

liuidou

\

/

S

fiviinoi

./

lazy person )

/khon kiat/

flUlWOl

./

one person only )

/khon diao/

to be easy )

/gâay/

to be ajar, slightly open )

/gEEm/

letter -mail- )

/jot maay/

small house lizard )

/jigjòk/

-to act- rapidly, without

/chàapchuay/

-jitj V

flWMUIW V

/ inuînt)

concentration ) to wipe a table ) •

/chét tó?/ .

to buy meat )

/sua nua/

status, position ) hold on! )

/thäana?/ V y /diao diao/

/'

OK; to agree )

/tòklo^/

/...

/

lífilñt

/

/

"«orna

/

./

¡JIVÎÎ:

/

/

i«OT n

/

nna-î

/

/

•

wililimsnmj InslMty 4 al

/ /

nta-i

/

'

/

,

/

to reach an intersection ) to be impudent; to act

/thà?lâg/

boisterously ) yn-înni

/tua pay IE? klàp/ /tó? yày/ V ^ ^ /thag siiyEEk/

big table )

/

,

ti-îîiiiijn

( return ticket )

•

to the right )

/thaag khwaa/

mw«

./

to the left )

/thaag saay/

vn-^un

/

on the ground )

/thaag bòk/

Yn4Qon

./

exit )

/thaag ?Ò3k/

to facilitate )

/tham hây g aay/

88

EXERCISE

ANSWER

ynlMííswin / íWIfllí

/

/

/

( to facilitate )

/tham hây sà?dùak/

( bank -money- )

/thá?naakhaan/

( water )

/náam/

( ice )

V /nám khEg/

V

*^1 od

/••••/ /

V WWT

/

/

y

/

/

/

/ lUJWl I o

/

VIO-3141

/

(tears)

/ /

/

/ /

,. f

/nám taa/

. .

(sugar)

/nám taan/

( oil )

/nám man/

( river )

/mEE náam/

( to swim )

/wâay náam/

( toilets, washroom )

/hai) náam/ ^5»

'ftf&r *See chapter 4, 3A on pages 27 and 28. lllUMTifl

/. . . . .. /

III«UT

/

miWMUT

/

yinw

/ /

/pen wat/

(to turn on the water )

/pàat náam/

(handkerchief)

/phaa ch¿t nâa/

/

( vendor, sales person )

/phuu khaay/

/

(man)

/phuu chaay/

( adult )

/phuu yày/

( t o rain )

/fon tòk/

(our group, us, we )

/phûak rao/

( elder sister )

/phii saao/

/ /

/

/

/ vnnin I •Wfin '

(to have a cold )

/

/

/

/.'.. . •..../

>¡jílfnwi0-ínt|w

/

UllfJt)UlVI0U

/ /

/ ( to speak English ) /phuut phaasaa ?agkrit/ A /(to come and visit friends )/maa yiam phaan/

/ UlUU

/

liniMOT

/

/ / /

(tobebusy)

/mii thú?rá?/

( cloudy )

/mii meek/

( to be drunk )

/mao lao/

89

ANSWER

EXERCISE öinwfiwioö /

/

îiweiwi

/

/

wouíulí

I

lîOtl *1

/

(a little difficult )

/yaak nitnoy/

( restaurant )

/raan ?aahaan/

/ ( to leam by heart ) /

no-lfiiuiau

/rian khun jay/

( so so ) /

I

/r«ay raay/

( novel )

/rÄag ?àan lên/

lî-îdlfl«!

I

/(slaughterhouse)

lî-WIOU

/

/

( school )

/roog rían/

ànVQir

/

/

( characteristics, quality )

/láksá?ná?/

aiofleío

/

laowoon

/

Î4MÎÎ

/

naiW

/

/ ( signature ) / /

I

îÎQlÛîtnîJa /

flfoiJTU

/

MfiflU

/

Muom

/laay maa chaa/

(to bleed )

/luat look/

( to run away )

/wîij nïi/

(free time)'

/weelaawaag/

/

tiftytyi

/roogkhâa sat/

/( bus station )

/sà?thâanii rot mee/

( t o promise )

/s^yaa/

( shape, figure )

/santhaan/

I

(sixty)

/ h ò k sip/

/

/

( oculist )

/moo taa/

MUOlWu

I

/

( dentist )

/moo fan/

«•íWfííJl

/

ImIoooìì

I I

/

/

( shelves attached to the wall ) /hig üt faa/

/ SEE laoWOQfl for construction ( to perspire )

/gua look/ \-

/

( unreliable -conversation-)

/lo? IE?/

IviiyTw

I

I

( enormous )

/yày too/

0V|{yi9l

/

(to allow, to grant )

/?a?nu?yaat/

OlUÎni

I....

(America)

/?a?meeri?kaa/

Otil

/... /

•/ /

( do not

!)

/yàa/ /

90

^

mmtimns/

EXERQSE

ANSWER

0oin

/..

( to want to )

/yàak/

oon

!..

( to leave, to go out )

/look/

onuî

!..

( letter -alphabet- )

/laksoon/

lomíí

!..

( opportunity, chance )

/?ookàat/

íit'íí^

rri

-•rsaiîOïiq?-^-^ '•

4>iow nt

f

' dIoH 3'/!>ri îoiine;: v-^nTís/J

-w

{;rîHî->îâ. :

! Siti-vSgiifTi Í 'in sid&î }

'attiifîîfiffîo-

91

CHAPTER 11 WHAT TO KNOW AND REMEMBER ABOUT 1

o.y

WHEN NOT IN INITIAL POSITION 1) IN FINAL POSITION: A)

î

is read /-n/ when in syllable-final position and when preceded by a written

vocalic. Example: 0TH11

/?aahaan/

( food )

REMARK: 1 in word-medial position can be a final or an initial, read /-n/ or /ra?/ but cannot have both functions, except in a few exceptions. Examples: UliPIT

/maandaa/

( mother )

niííll

/waará?saan/

( magazine )

íílíinty

/saara?baan/

( table of contents, index )

/jeenrá?jaa/

( to negotiate )

Exception:

B)

î

is read /- oon/ when in final position in a syllable in which no written

vocalic occurs. Example: Uñí

/ná?khoon/

2) SILENT BEHIND

H. fi or îT.

A) The combination

is often read /s-/.

(city)

Examples; nnu

92

/sâap/

( to know )

Tinti

/saay/

( sand )

/sut/

( to shrink, to subside )

oniiisd

B) In the combination fll. 1 is often silent, /S-/-

•i

ih

Examples; ffîtlin

/sàtthaa/

( faith, belief )

tffo

/say/

( shelter, refuge )

ffllYIÎ

/sàat/

( obedient, trusting )

C) In the comlñnatíon tn, 1 is often silent, /S-/Examples:

V tÎîïllDUl

/sà?wâaynàam/

( swimming-pool )

/sâag/

( to build, to create )

Iffl«

/set/

( finished, accomplished )

Iflîil

/S99t/

( to escape; quick, alert )

D) Remark:

When finding

one of these three combinations in a new word, it is highly

recommended to check the pronunciation in a dictionary as the inherent /-a?/, or /- 00/, is pronounced between the two consonants in some words. Examples; nîxnu

/th 00 ra?maan/

( to subdue by punishing, tormenting )

rfîs

/sa?ra?/

( vowel, vocalic )

tflir

/sa?riira?/

( body )

ff^iJ

/sà?rùp/

( to summarize )

risx3 •-m'

'it r E) Exception;

The following word is to be memorized as it is the only word with silent

1

93

behind í.

' «î-î

'

/jiîj/

(to be true)

3) DOUBLE 1 USED AS VOCALIC OR VOCALIC + CONSONANT: A) Used as vocalic: /-a-/ When ÎÎ

occurs in syllable-medial position, it is used in place of the short

vowel -- luMUOimff /màyhan?aakàat/. Example: UîîUfin

/thammá?daa/

( ordinary )

Ë) Used as vocalic + consonant: /-an/^ When ÎÎ

occurs in syllable-final position, it is pronounced /-an/.

Êxample; Uîîpn

/bandaa/

( every, all, everyone )

C) Remarks: a) lonoflîîlVljW Here

îî

/?èek?àkrà?râatchà?thûut/

(ambassador)

does not occur as a double consonant. The first of the two letters

is an initial followed by the inherent

/-a?/, the second letter is the initial of the

following syllable. b)

When

îî

occurs in word-medial position, it can have both functions

(final of one syllable and initial of the following), but it is rare. Example: riîOI

/phanrá?yaa/

( wife )

c) 11 is often refered to as î MW ¡too han/

94

when or^ly spelling a word.

/

EXERCISE 5

1) NOTE; This exercise introduces the new rules given in paragraphs 1 and 3. 2) METHOD; Idem as EXERCISE 1. After finding

the right spelling of each Thai word, practice writing by copying

them at least twice each. EXERCISE

ANSWER

fiîîunî

/

/

( labour workers )

/kammáíkoon/

nîiumî

/

/

(director)

/kammá?kaan/

Olì

/

( task, action -used to form

/kaan/

/

lots of words- ) niîilïsmfï /

/

( announcement, notice )

/kaanpra?kaat/

nnnîîlni

/

(jaw)

/khaakankiay/

/

fitUïfiîîîJfnï nuTifiorflî

/

tiTîî

/

/

/ ( committee )/khá?ná?kanmiá?kaan/ / /

(passenger)

/khondooysaan/

( to be strong, stable,

/thaawoon/

permanent ) /

/

( soldier )

/tha?haan/

UWlfni

/

( bank -money- )

/tha?naaklu«|g/

MíU

/..../

(the law of nature, duty,

/tham/

virtue Dharma-Buddhist teaching ) /

/

( t o insert, t oput into )

/banju?/

IJí'ílT

/

/

( every, all, everyone )

/bandaa/

UTîim

/

(to improve the condition

/banthao/

/

in case of sickness or distress ) /

/

( class, set, group, multitude ) /phák/

95

EXERCISE

fiîlWI

/

nwwifni

/

/

ANSWER

( husband-formal-)

.

/ ( restaurant -formal- ) -Sr

^

/phandaa/, /phattaakhaan/

•

Ulltnn

/

I

( conduct, behaviour )

/manyâat/

U1ÎPÎ1

/

/

( mother )

/maandaa/

îOUîîYjn

/

(truck)

/rótbanthúk/

aïfll

I

,. /

( staged play )

llíllúioonl

íí-JííH

/

f

( to manifest compassion

/soi}saan/

/

or sympathy ) aumi

/

îïiînqoi

/

•îfJîîfÎ

/

ííluííí

/

QflWI

/

y / / / /

( to be suitable, proper )

/somkhuan/

(qualities)

/sappa?khun/

( heaven, paradise )

/sa?wan/

( association, society, club )

/sàîmoosoon/

( letter -alphabet- )

/?aks5on/

• See chapter 13 for the irregularity of the tone in the second syllable.

\máíá±ú.bfñi,:ii\

'

.V'üJb .»tüííui !CJ WRî-ili: * í f/úújt.-}

Ahbu8,'ír-m&á.(i Sijntí ( oiiXi luq os ,ttí»8m oi >

\i,<¡tnM
•

.iiß

i:

f ...

í

-f) ggsnMoí?; '•?<> ir-

Uií«'; ; 'Ainiü'um jiiKXk .jOÍ ,s&b >

96

..

CHAPTER 12 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & GROUPINGS (£

(Chapter 4 should be studied at this stage)

J TA

1) GENERAL RULES: A) Three types: Type 1

: true clusters /kr-/, /kl-/, /pr-/ as in

Type 2

mi-î

/kwaag/

: consonant groupings pronounced as single consonants as in

Type 3

( wide, broad )

/saan/

(exhausted)

i consonant groupings with one of the three inherent vowels pronounced between the two letters as in

0100

/?à?ròy/

( tasty, good )

t

B) Tone of the syllable: Type 1 & Type 2 : the tone is given by the first consonant even though all elements are carried by the second ( always a sonorant ). Type 3

; when the word is disyllabic, with the inherent /-a?/ pronounced in the first syllable and the second consonant is a sonorant, the tone of the second syllable is given by the first initial. ( See examples with asterisk on page 17 ).

See examples given above. C) Position of compounds and other elements: All elements are written as if there was only one consonant: - predisposed symbols occur in front of the grouping or cluster. - upperscript

and underscript symbols occur above and under the

SECOND consonant. Type 1 :

iiltii

/plàao/

( empty; no )

97

Type 2

îiîoufle

/sooykhw/ ( necklace )

Type 3

irfiie

/sà?m99 /

( always )

2) REMARKS ON THE FIVE PREDISPOSED VOCALICS WHEN THEY PRECEDE AT LEAST TWO CONSONANTS: REMARKS

SPELLING PV + c + c

PRONUNCIATION C + PV + c /khÊg/ (shin)

normal pattern PV + c + c... ITIÍIÍWTÍ

PV + c + c TYPE 1

Inî

C + PV + C... /thoorá?sáp/ (telephone)

C + C + PV /khray/ (who7;whoever)

(true cluster) PV + c + c + c Innw

C + C + PV + C /iiífóii; ^Ùd)

PV + c + c + c

TYPE 2

/sit/ ito in äCcomplished)

(double initial PV + C + C + C... pronounced as single)

ifjîvnôï

PV + c + c

TYPE 3

ItlVJ

G + PV + C... /sèettàîlàt/ (economy)

C + INHERENT /-a?/ + C + PV /chàîniy/ (an oboe)

(inherent /-a?/ pronounced between

PV + C + C...

the fìrst two consonants) * A dot has been placed below the initial (single or double)

98

C + INHERENT /-a?/+ C + PV + C /khi?nEEg/ (twig)

REMARK: Apart from knowing the pronunciation, there is no general rule giving the type of syllable to which the juxtaposed consonants belong when none carries a tonal marker. * inUflî

/kà?sèet/ ( land )

BUT

/ijÈE/

BUT

(little,

Ifitïî

/keesaon/

( pollen )

/hèg/

( place, spot )

/hEEn/

( to care for )

young) imu

/nEE/

(v^etable

BUT

UVrV4

scum growing on stagnant water )

• Here 1 is silent ( See chapter 14 ) 3) TYPE 1: A) First consonant The first consonant of the cluster can be

n, II or fl

n iJ, W or VI

B) Second consonant: The second consonant of the cluster can be one of the three following sonorants:

î, a

or

REMARK: n

is only found with

î.

4) TYPE 2: A) The initial grouping is pronounced as a single consonant: M Combinations:

HÎ, fíí,

and

îTî.

ni

is usually pronounced ¡ X o o x . .. / or /s-/

ffl

is usually pronounced /sa?r .../ or /s-/

99

îiî

is usually pronounced /sà?r . .. / or /s-/

Examples of the three combinations pronounced /s-/ : flisnn-l

/krà?suag/

mA

/soq/

form, shape, figure )

nnu

/sâap/

to know )

/sut/

to shfihk, to subside-)'

UYlîfi

/sEEk/

to squeeze through )

llîSilîiîS

/prà?sà3Bit/-

to be precious, esteemed )

iffítJjñfl

/sèettà?kit/ ( economy )

îii-îiîfîu

/sòijsaam/

íílOOfiO

¡sooyVhool ( necklace )

ÍÍISÍ

/sa?/

( pond; to cleanse, rinse )

ÎÎÎ14

/saaitj/

( to decrease, to vanish progressively )

'

( ministry -of government- )

{to encourage )

• This word is an homograph of fflt B) The initial is preceded by H Wl or

/sà?rà?/

( vowel, vocalic )

0 HI

See pages 79 and 80.

5) GENERAL REMARK: Any other combination automatically belongs to type 3, with an inherent pronounced between the two consonant^., Examples:

100

liû«

/cha?nit/

( kind, sort )

Yivni

/tha?haan/

( soldier )

llgnvi

/pa?ti?thin/

( calendar )

WOltnu

/pha?yaayaam/

( to try )

6) TYPES: A) The two consonants belong to the same syllable: When the two consonants belong to the same syllable, the first letter is the initial of the syllable and the second is the final. Then the inherent /-o-/ is pronounced between them. ' Thé initial carries a tonal marker when rèquired. Examples: seepage 18. As shown in these examples, most words built up of two consonants only are monosyllabic words pronounced with the inherent /-o-/. More examples:

_.L

'la

'

UD

/khòp/

^

•Uli

/khon/

(feathers: body hair )

•UU

/khöm/

P m

/ton/

( trunk of trees; classifier for trees, plants.. . )

NO

/phÓn/

( product, result )

Iff

/rot/

( taste, flavour )

/loi]/

.( to descend, decrease )

/lóm/

( to stumble, to fall over )

/sog/

( to send, to take, to deliver )

ou

^

, .(hitter^

^ rii f. 9qxî íüíw bnuoi

_

..

;a!qmsx3 staM . . .v.,.. .

B) the two consonants are both initials. When both consonants are initials the inherent /-a?/, or sometimes l-ool, is pronounced after the first consonant! ( see examples given on pages 17 and 19 ). No tonal marker is carried by the syllable initial pronounced with the inherent /-a?/ or /- 00 /. More examples: The underscript"dpt'indicates.an inîtlàl carfying an înhçrent.

^,1;,

101

/ká?rú?naa/

( please )

/chà?waa5/

( to obstruct by placing something crosswise )

tjiiw

/thà?nàt/

( clearly, distinctly; apt, clever )

TJHIÏWI

/thá?ná?bát/

( banknote ) Here î is silent ( See chapter 14 )

pjiîn

/phà?nùk/

( to seal, to close up )

/sà?guan/

( to keep safely, to be careful of )

/sà?thâanii/

( station; central office or headquarters )

iiinü

REMARKS: » a)

As shown in this example some combinations specific to type 1 are also

found with type 3 in some cases. More examples: fiîâô

/ká?rá?iüi/

( duty , obligation )

ftîvn

/khá?rá?haa/

( to defame; defamation )

iJîtJitJ

/pà?n?yaay/

( way, manner )

ila«

/pà?làt/

( assistant )

N^ÎÎ

/phà?rù?sà?/

( rough, unkind )

NB«

/phà?lit/

( to produce fruits )

HIT

/phàìv/aa/

( to be frightened )

VI0^í1V4

/phá?laggaan/

( energy )

® b) Another type of combination: Gl or G2 + inherent /-a?/ + sonorant +

The tone of the second syllable is given by Gl or G2 in disyllaUc words. Example: •UUI'l

102

( see next chapter for more examples ) /kha?raag/ ( to doubt, to suspect )

C) Some words are only built up of consonants: It is not always easy to read words when no written vocalic occurs, Examples:

/khà?nom/

( cake, cereal food )

OUU

/thà?non/

(street)

Yiauu

/thonlá?bom/

( to spray; to apply with a brush; to rub gently )

um«

/m33rá?kót/

(emerald)

UMIÎÎW

/má?ho3rá?sc)p/

( entertainment )

íífiilin

/sòkkà?pròk/

( dirty )

BUT : ( example ) •

Knowing that the combination 1)14 cannot be TYPE 1 nor TYPE 2 it has to be

TYPE 3, with «u

followed by an inherent.

The combination VlU

cannot be TYPE 1 nor TYPE 2 either, therefore 14 will

be followed by an inherent. As /-a?/ is hardly found at the end of a word ( as an inherent ) and as ¡-ooj mainly occurs at the beginning of words ( 1 inherent /-o-/ is to be pronounced between U

being the second consonant ) the and U.

>iU

C Uiivm «i

;1 j i rt! 1 influì

103

CHAPTER 13 IRREGULAR TONES ( Chapter 8 should be studied at this stage )

1 ) TYPE 3 : A) General rule:

As a general rule disyllabic words built up as follows have their second syllable pronounced according to th6 tone rules of the first consonant ( see paragraph IB, page 97 ). Gl or G2 + I /-a?/ ^

»v

"

I •I

+

Sonorant + . . . .

'

^

Examples with G1 initials: "flîjn «

/jà?mùuk/

( nose )

«an

/tà?lòk/

( amusing, humorous )

«ao«

/tà?lòot/

( all through, througout )

«ai«

/tà?làat/

( market place )

0^'vi

/?à?gùn/

( grape )

01OfJ

/?à?rày/

( tasty, good )

Examples with G2 initials:

104

r-;rf i '

•UUJJ

/khà?nôm/

( biscuit, cereal food )

«UI41«

/khà?nàat/

( size )

•uou

/khà?yan/

( diligent )

i*UUî

/khà?mëen/

( Kmer, Cambodian )

injtJi

/khà?yào/

( to shake, to swing )

«ai« i lilao

/chà?làat/

( clever )

/chà?lia/

( average )

/thà?non/

( street ) .

chapter 12

OVIPI

/thà?nàt/

( clearly-distinctly )

001

/thà?laa/

( to stumble )

ima-]

/thà?lÈEg/

( to relate, to tell -formal- )

wm t FJI-J

/phà?nag/

( interior walls )

/fà?ràg/

( white race of people )

îi-jii

/sà?i)òp/

( peace )

îtUIJJ

/sà?nàam/

( open field )

ffÛU

/sà?nim/

( rust )

ÍTÍJ0>1

Isaf moo î)l

( brain )

ÎÏÎJfll

/sà?màk/

( to volunteer, to join willingly )

íTUt)

1 s a i m a y1

( era, age )

îïî^ni

/sà?mùt/

( sea; marine -adj.- )

IÍTU0

/sà?m 9 9 /

( always )

: >• f

* 1 is silent. See chapter 14. B) Exceptions and particularities: a) A few words just do not undergo the basic rule, but it is RARE ; Example ; /sa?mat/

( meeting, assembly )

< •'

b) A few words buüt up of more than two syllables undergo the basic rule: Examples: ilUUîTîOtJ

/thà?nïmsoay/

( delicate, frail -as children- )

ilD-în-J

/thà?mugthag/

( fierce, violent -attitude, disposition- )

/sa?mutthan/

( cause, origin )

V

105

c) Lots of comp<Äind words include disyllabic words:

Examples: /khà?nômkoi)/

( sweet meat made of peanut flour mixed with sugar )

niuuiî-î

/khà?nómpai)/

( bread )

/kfaà?nàatklaai)/

( medium size )

/khàînàatlék/

( small size )

0WU1«

/thogkhà?nàat/

{right size )

/n33kkhà?nàat/

< oversized, too big )

rfî-MfftÎ

/fàîràgsèt/

( French )

ffinuñwi

/sa?nSamkülaa/

{stadiiun )

trulîjûu

/sàînaambin/

( airport )

IfUlUMtyi

/sà?naamyâa/

( lawn, plot of grass )

/sà?mùtdian/

( seashore )

río-ífíl^ni

i

/th3ogsà?mùt/

( the bosom of the sea )

/mà?haasà?mìit/

( ocean )

C) Remarks:

a) As a general rule, in disyllablic words which undergo the basic rule given above ( paragraph lA ), the normally predisposed elements occur in front of the consonant grouping. Examples; mue

Iff

106

/sà?m MI

( always )

/sa?wEEg/

( to seek, to search )

/sà?ròoi)/

(sarong )

b) As a general rule, in disyllabic words which DO NOT undergo the basic rule given above ( paragraph 1A ), the normally predisposed elements occur in front of the SONORANT as in the ncmnal syllable construction. Examples: •üluö

/khà?mooy/

( thief )

ííluííl

/sà?moos3on/

( association, club )

There are a few exceptions still, as in: liimt

/chà?pó?/

( especially )

2) SOME OTHER DISYLLABIC WORDS:

In some disyllabic words, when the first syllable has a Gl or G2 initial and the second is dead with a G3 initial, the tone of the second syllable depends on Gl or G2. Examples: Wlîl«

/tamrùat/

( police )

llîïJJITl

/prà?màat/

( careless, negligent )

llíslüfl

/prà?yòok/

( sentence -grammar- )

iJîïltiiili

/prà?yòot/

( utility, advantage )

iJisTñ

/prà?wàt/

( biography, record ). - is silent. See 14 (2C, 3B )

llíSTPÍfílííílf

/prà?wàttì?sàat/

( History as a subject )

ííinfl

/samrùat/

( to make an inventory )

iîllîfl

/samrèt/

( to be accomplished, completed )

107

REMARKS: These words demand special attention as their tones are incorrectly given in Thai-English dictionaries. Many recent loanwords from English have irregular tonal markers or irregular tones. : ^:i>

.

J. -

' ". n.Viii;.

••/V''fi. ft;'

ï'ii :

:

?

ß "-ä Si'ärf !'

' ••'reincií i fsà'ifAdmim -A

-,,.í/j.iYáía iîaiîTû3MC€ «s

mmì^'

9IÎÎ öitfi Isüini

IO ft) ß t&ñ v^óhiì''--

S'fíl uífíw .¿Íiiuví aídiiiívíiíi titño?. n!

'SO ÍO ito alxi:î^*.'-y í>í0i>íí it iitiajîîa îîK

suoi 'îriJ

'f.'.

.

t.O s riJiw bösb ú bnoosí* i tlífi b.,; - » T . í í í »

:

..ïiifqm&xd • i 35tlöq "i

,íKÚií«eí\

( i ftP'tf'gSn .E89Í9180 )

\íií^mímq''

( -íisfr^flCI^ ÍJtJÍTSÍRSiÉ )

'jO •• ^'h': '•{

( '^gsinevbß .vtilfîu ì

î.(,r^,a ?,i

^ 4,bloss» /Aioìngoid •( (•tí£ ,31 >

I, viuJñí'Wíi

108

•

« t.# 4 <««*

ñc

iS i

'is¿

( ìrì'Mvii.' ^ ^ vwîeH ) . : \íiíé8,Jtíf¿w"ir"

(

.-¡i .jjjj

'i.'.x>v t-j'.q' j/A'TÍ.

tfí

jbarinilqnirtaíis acM

> ;

îriÎifBîîf ;;?lí sÍj.UífT1S¿'^g2, „

fjífñ


.ÍO

EXERCISE 6 This exercise illustrates chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.

1) METHOD;

A) Transcribe the phonetic value of each word, with the tones, in the space provided, keeping the answers covered until you have completed the exercise. If you have real difficulties check in the dictionary. B) Give the type of consonant groupings on a separate paper.

Examples; ( see the glossary on the following page )

C)

llfuil^-3

/pràppru^/

/TI +T1/

( to improve )

bi 1 ^ ^ mitjtuo

/praysà?nii/

/Tlb + T3* + S/

( post-office )

JJMlíTVI

/má?h3í)rá?sóp/

/T3* + T3*

ifíiilffn

/saosòok/

/T2c + Sa/

/mot/

/T2 - T3/

T3* + T3@/ ( festival ) ( sad, depressed ) ( finished; all, entire )

After correction of your answers read each phonetic transcription aloud

several times. D) Cover up the Thai words and find their correct spelling, with the help of the phonetics, and the type of consonant groupings, keeping the answers covered until you have completed the exercise. E) Cover up the phonetics and read each word aloud after writing it at least twice. 2) REMARKS; A) Take chapter 9 and reread paragraph 3 carefully, page 69. B) Keep a list of the permissible consonant combinations per type of grouping. ( chapter 12, paragraphs 3 to 6 ). C) Keep a copy of the chart given in paragraph 2, page 98.

109

3) GLOSSARY:

S

= any open or closed syllable with written vocalic including "ïl /-a-/ or /-an/ and 1

Sa

read

read ¡-oon/.

= any open or closed syllable with the written vocalic ( or part of it ) placed before the initial, as shown in paragraph 2 (a), page 98. Example:

il'U-î.

Tl

= Type 1 Chapter 12 ( 1A and 3 ), pages 97 and 99

T2

= Type 2 Chapter 12 ( lA and 4 ), pages 97 and 99

T3

= Type 3 Chapter 12 ( 1A and 6 ), pages 97 and 102

T3*

= first syllable: C +inherent /-a?/ or l-ool

T3(& = first syllable: C + inherent /-o-/ + C Tib

= Type 1 when the written vocalic ( or part of it ) occurs before the consonant cluster, as shown in paragraph 2, page 98. Examples:

T2c

Iflî,

= Type 2 when the written vocalic ( or part of it ) occurs before the consonant grouping, as shown in paragraph 2, page 98. Example:

T3d

líTIí

= Type 3 when the inherent /-a?/ is pronounced between the first two consonants and a predisposed vocalic pronounced in the second syllable is written before the word consonant initial, as shown in paragraph 2. Examples;

IttVI, llllU-J

Tl-T3= combination of Tl and T3@ Examples:

nail

/klop/ . /tror)/

( to cover up ) ( straight )

T2-T3= combination of T2 and T3@ Examples;

ifín

/sao/

( sad )

/mot/

( finished: entire )

ANSWER

EXERCISE

ningiflu

/

/

(July) /kà?rà?kà?daakhoin/ /T3 »+T3 *+73 •+S+T3@/

/••••/ fiîtiîlioe

(cage)

/

/

/

inao

/

•un

/T1-T3/

(handbag) /krà?paothón/

/Tl+Sa+S/

(banana)

/Tl/

/kluay/

/

/

(more than)

/

/

( salt )

/klua/

/Tl b/

(angry)

/kròot/

/Tib/

/ Inmnn

/krog/

/

/

/

/kwàa/

/Tl/

( excitement ) /koolaahôn/

/Sa+S+T3@/

/••••/

( near, close t o )

/Tib/

/

(far)

/

/klây/

/klay/

( t o suspect)

/Tib/

/

/

/khà?nâag/ /T3*+S/

/

•/

(size)

/

/

(moment) /khà?nà?/

/T3»+S/ /T1-T3/

/khà?nàat/

/T3*+S/

/

/

(noisy)

/

/

( right side ) /khwaa/

/Tl /

/

/

(awry)

/Tib/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/khrom/

/khwee/

( to reduce )/khà?mÈEo/

/T3d/

( to pound )/khlòok/

/Tib/

( group of people )/khà?yóog/ /T3d/

fllUUiyitU /

/

(entirely)

/khrópb33ri?buun/ /Tl-T3+T3*+S+S/

fiiaunîT

/

/

(family)

/khrwpkhrua/

/Tl+Tl/

V

flf-Jllin J

/ /

. .. / /

( first time ) /khrá^rEEK/

/Tl+Sa/

( before a noun: "half; after a noun: "one and a half ) /khrâi]/

/Tl /

(smoke)

/Tl/

ft/

/

/

/khwan/

111

ANSWER

EXERCISE

ifìi0-5 Ifll

/

/

/

; ':

/

«-514

/

«110-3

I

I

"í'íl /

/

I

(utensil)

/khruag/

/Tib/

( to wish )

/khrây/

/Tib/

( to be in doubt ) /chà?gón/

/T3*+T3@/

( to celebrate )

/chalioor}!

/T3*+S/

( kind, sort )

/chá?nit/

/T3*+S/

( to agree ) /tòkloq/

/T3@+T3@/

/

(throughout)

/tà?lÒ3t/

/T3*+S/

/

/

( market place )

/tà?làat/

/T3*+S/

P I I - jllJ

/

/

(straight on)

/trogpay/

/Tl-T3+Sa/

9ini)

/

Í1V4W

/

014^

I

wn?i-3

/

?ia0i1

I

Wfllfl

I

( to check ) /truat/

/Tl/

I

(street)

/T3*+T3@/

I

( clearly, distinctly: handy, apt )

/

/thà?n6n/

/thà?nàt/ Y11- 3

I- • . 1

Tliun\4

/

( shape, form )

/soq/

/T3*+S/ /T2-T3/

( to subdue by tormenting or oppressing )

/

/th03ra?maan/

/T3*+T3*+S/

Y111f[\ 4s;

I

I

( perception )

Yll-M?»

/

/

( stubborn ) /thoorá?hót/ /T3*+T3*+T3@/

YIIJJ

I

Yini

I

YTHII

I

Byifiii

/

5iiu?n

I

Byiifiu

/

Ufll

I

urn

/

112

( overwelmed )

/thuam/

/

( entrance door )

/tha?waan/ /T3*+S/

I

(soldier)

/thà?haan/

/T3*+S/

( bank )

/tha?naakhaan/

/T3*+S+S/

I

/

( ordinary ) /thammá?daa/

/ I

/ /

/thátsá?ná?/ /S+T3*+S/

/S/

/S+T3*+S/

( December ) /thanwaakhom/ /S+S+T3@/ (city)

/ná?kh33n/

/T3*+S/

(hell)

/ná?rók/

/T3*+T3@/

EXERCISE /

ANSWER

/

( t o manifest accuracy, carefulness -writing,...- ) /banjoi)/

Ullî

/

UÎmi

/

iJgflJJ

/

/S+T3@/

( t o insert) /banjù?/

/S+S/

/

(to help)

/bo3ri?kaan/

/T3*+S-i-S/

/

I

(host)

/pà?tì?khom/

/T3*+S+T3@/

iJpU

/

/

(calendar) /pa?ti?thin/

llyiTUniîJ

/

/

/T3*-l-S-(-S/

( dictionary ) /pà?thaanù?krom/ /T3*+S+S+T1-T3/

llismtl

/

I

/ lIlïlYlflf

/

llJlOT

/

(ñn) W^íínYI

/ /

(spark)

/pra?kaay/

/TI+S/

(daily)

/pra?jamwan/

/Tl-l-S+S/

' ( c o u n t r y ) /prà?thêet/

7

(sour)

/

/Tl-t-Sa/

/priao/

/Tib/

/ ( rude language ) /khamphà?rù?sà?wàat/ /S+T3*+S+T3*-t-S/

wB

I

WIT

/

VIÔîUWï;

/

/ / /•

(to bud)

/phli?/

/Tl/

(scared)

/pha?waa/

/T3*-t-S/

( consonant )

/phá?yanchá?ná?/ /T3 *-1-8-1-J3*+S/

VltJnnioi

/

I

( prediction ) /phá?yaak3on/

VlfJIfJnU

/

/

( perseverence ) /phá?yaayaam//T3 *-i-S-i-S/

/ Wtnian

/

IVins;

/

lV
/

fJf-IlftíT

/

/IUI

I

niejl

/

/

( whilst ) /

/

, .

/phro?/

( song, music ) / / /

/Tl /

(to consider) /phitjaara?naa/ /S-hS-i-T3*-i-S/ (because)

/

/phlaaç/

/T3*+S-t-S/

(French)

/phlee^/ /fâ?rà9sèet/

/Tib/ /Tib/ /T3*+S-HSa/

(bee)

/phá?moon/

/T3*-i-S/

(wife)

/phanrá?yaa/

/S-i-T3*-t-S/

113

ANSWER

EXERQSE ììì\Q

I.

( crown )

/má?kút/

UQíwiol

/.

( royal palace )

Min«

/.

(emerald) /mo3rá?kót/ /T3*+T3*+T3@/ . . / ( University )

UTIIlTJOinö/.

/T3*+S/

/monthian/ /T3@+Sa/

/má?haawitthá?yaalay/ /T3*+S+S+T3*+S+S/

Ijjnvnfia

( to express gratitude for services rendered )

/.

/mootha?naakhun/ ( to elucidate )

lltlflllUS

( parachute )

/Sa+T3*+S+S/

/yEEkyE?/ /Sa+Sa/ /rômchuuchîip/ /T3@+S+S/

îl-MSIU

( solitary place ) /ra?hoothaan/ /T3*+Sa+S/

lî-ïwtniJio

( hôpital ) /roogphá?yaabaan//Sa+T3*+S+S/ ( to be ruined )

/lomjom/

/T3@+T3@/

inviai

( to auction )

/leela^/

/Sa+T2/

lafìw

( blood )

iiífl

( paragraph )

trniJin

( dirty )

íídniiani

( to send a cable ) /sògthoorà?lèek/

/loohit/

/Sa+S/

/wák/

/S/

/sòkkà?pròk/ /T3@+T3*+T1-T3/

/T3@+Sa+T3*+Sa/ îr-îfliijj

/.

(war)

íT-HfinSTÍ

/.

( tp support, help ) /sopkhr ó ?/ /T3@+T1b/

ìTÌutn

/.

(club)

/.

(frightened) /sà?yòtsà?y33 5/

*írf)íiííej0-3

/sogkhraam/

/T3@+T1/

/sa?moos5on/

/T3*+Sa+S/

/T3*+T3@-T3*+S/ ÎTISHÏJ

/

*îii>jîiny

/

Hin-3

/

Minn

/ . . . .í

114

/

( shampoo ) /sà?phÔm/

/T2+T3@/

( anxious ) /sà?wii)sà?waay/ /T3 *+S+T3 *+S/ •/

( to seek, search ) /sà?wEEg/

/T3d/

( hat )

/T2/

/mùak/

ANSWER

EXERCISE Miieu

jmoonj

..../

(cushion)

Minn

..../

( loose, too big )

>nio

..../

( rattan )

m-îi

.../

( lonesome )

IT2I

/luam/

1121

ini

Iw&ayl /^ao/

/T2c/

V

muu

.../

( to stink )

/mEn/

/T2c/

IMfll

- . 7

( akohol )

/lao/

/T2c/ /T3*+S+Sa/

ofliin

/

( siqwrior ) /?à?di?rêek/

«îflltU

./

( triai

/

( to allow ) /?à?nù?yâat/

/T3*+S+S/

( to want to )

IT2I

eoin

o^tu

..../ / /

oanijiii

loifioioa

/

lomtT

/?à?thi?k33n/

/

/yàak/

/T3*+S+S/

/T3*+S/

( dawn )

/?à?run/

( tumult )

/?onlà?màan/ /T3@+T3'*+T2/

( sickly, weak )

/

oemtofl

)

/ l o o t?EEt/ /S+Sa/

( delicious ) /?à?rèt?à?rc> y/

/T3d+T3*+S/

( occasion ) /?ookàat/

/Sa+S/

( wrathy )

/S+S/

/húthát/

* These words are compoxind words, therefore the tonal rule explained on page 104 is applied.

••

•!h;-

lìy i'Í! il

115

CHAPTER 14

• fc:,-

ïr-iCii

^

SILENCE, with and without marker

WOlfît

1 ) THE SILENCE MARKER: i

It can be called either luyTiun-iJiPi sign )

or ' mfuw

/nia'ythantha?khaat/

( the cancellation

/kaaran/

It is often used above a consonant to shovk^ that the latter is not pronounced. A) The cancellation sign usually occurs on the word final consonant. Examples:

tuoi

^

/kumphaaphan/

( February )

/baa/

( number: telephone, licence

¿ í w w oj •• t ì i i ' S p ( T t w u bi j

plate, size ... )

luíTtf

/boot/

( church )

MUvf

/phim/

( to print )

/rotyon/

(car)

TUfjni

/wansùk/

( Friday )

fv4iîni

/wansâo/

( Saturday )

tjnw

/yak/

( giant, supernatural creature )

/suun/

( zero )

/sàksit/

( to be sacred )

/sà?taai)/

( one hundredth of a baht;

«/

^

jy ^

m

*nnf1îTyiB íí?n-3íí

.,

; i

t-i I iwiil^

/Ka+b-

mìUX:ì

-

money ) Isàppkldaa/

d* ' ÎÎ-ÎVI

( week -formal- )

/sir)/

( lion )

oiJiinitf

/?à?nù?sâawà?rii/

( monument )

oimuíf

/?aakha?hee/

( South East )

* When the cancellation sign occurs above a word medial consonant, it is the

116

last letter of the first element in a compound word ( see paragraph 3 ). The cancellation sign often occurs at the end of loanwords borrowed from English as in: ÎlJîimifl

/pòoskàat/

( postcard )

idl-jflííiíííf

/frEEqsuis/

( Swiss franc )

lúa

/may/

( mile )

ííiiviuíl

/sà?tEEm/

( stamp )

uauiuoiinoi

/hEEmbaakaa /

( hamburger )

B) In some cases the consonant placed before the silent letter and / or the vocalic it carries ( usually the vowel - ) can be silent as well, as in: «/ A ^

/kà?sàt/

( king )

qufíTííwi «/ «/ ^ iWDwni

/phuumi?sàat/

( geography as a subject )

/wanjan/

( Monday )

fílfTílí

/sàat/

( field of knowledge ) as in /iupnif?iî above.

/?à?phi?sit/

( privilege )

AA

^

2) THE SILENCE MARKER ISOMITTED: A) Silent final; In some cases a final consonant is silent even though it does not carry the silence marker. In most words it is 1

preceded by a consonant corresponding to

/-k/, /i)/ or /-t/ as in: /kitja?wat/

( routine of work, daily program )

iniisni

/kà?sèet/

( land )

s)ni

/jàk/

( wheel )

lOflniOTU BtiUWI

/rotjâkyaan/ ( bicycle )V

/thá?ná?bát/

V ài' .. '• t

A

\

( banknote )

117

(«io) /but/

trjjflî

/chaay/

(son )

Ipìiéil

( diamond )

In this word i is omitted.

/nM?hâasà?mùt/

( ocean )

/mit/

( friend )

/gàîmàk/

( to volunteer )

,

B) In a few cases a c
as in:

intilfl

/loatti?/

( fame, renown )

iJnimil

/praatthàînaa/

( to desire, to wish ) Here 0 is used both as a final ai^ an initial.

tninîo

/saamâat/

( to be able to, to be capable )

C) In a few cases the final consonant is pronounced but NOT the vowel it carries as Q,

«, <5^ Ina

/kòot/

( ten million )

ôftyiiiw

/swchaat/

( nationality )

tyiw

/yâat/

( relatives -in family- )

uiwiinÂ

/naanaachaat/

( international )

/pràîwàt/

( record, biography ). See 13 (2) for tone.

/hèet/

( reason, motive, cause )

/?ù?bàt/

( to happen suddenly )

/?ù?bàtti?hèet/

( accident ).

IMíj

BUT ^ÎTWMÎJ

See paragraph 3 (B), page 119.

D) As seen on page 92, 1 is silent in the three following combinations: TU, flî.ff' pronounced /s-/ as in:

118

Tinu

/sâap/

( to know )

fIÍYlfn

/sàtthaa/

( faith, behef )

I o îTîï'JIfJlÎT

/sà?wâaynàani/

( swimming pool )

lîilî

/set/

( to be finished, accomplished )

3) SILENT LETTERS IN COMPOUND WORDS: A) The silent marker can be found in the middle of a compound word as in: 'W'MBníU'WíítiTU B)

/phi?phi?tha?phansa?thäan/

(museum)

Silent vowels can be pronounced when placed in the middle of a compound

word as in: /prà?wàttì?sàat/

( history as a subject )

/?ù?bàtti?hèet/

( accident )

r i J l A Ì ^î.

A,

•• • , .

í/íy ïTOhrWiO ¡Ikììi'!.,, : ;

,4 tììV

fï'î; '

iCClilV; V:ì„' ÎT cc"\ • .

f'> v-

iv-i... .•••

• Í

¡r,

'

-

ÍJ ÍCiíl . C O Ú a riJir'n, * rîî: U • ce'"; {^9 9 (ì

^ , .i ' K, fio i

? !

' t

4

•

119

CHAPTER 15 HOW TO SPELL WORDS 1) VOCALICS: Vowels and other vocalics are called îiîï

/sà?rà?/ plus their phonetic value.

Examples: T I 1-0

;

îïîï 1

/sà?rà? aa/

:

îiis; -

/sà?rà? i/

:

tris; 1-0

/sà?rà? -99 /

Exceptions: See 3 ( 4 ) on page 10. The three consonants used as vocahcs or elements of compound vocaUcs ( 0 , 0 ) are always called by their consonant name.

2) CONSONANTS: Consonants are usually called by their designatory name though adults tend to consider it rather childish therefore giving only the phonetic vahie when orally spelling words.

Examples;

n n In

/kookày/

or

/koD/

-5

-3 3

/ij03i)uu/

or

1^00 j

Í1

tl tl-3

/thoothu^/ or

¡úíooj

0

0 01-3

/?33?àa9/

¡looI

or

Exceptions: See 4 ( 5 ) on page 31.

120

3) EXAMPLES:

"HUI (n 141, Il ¿11, ais; -s)

/hoo nam, moo máa, sà?rà? -a?/

fìj (ñ fnifj, 1 i Iq , mz -)

/khoo khwaay, roo raa, sà?rà? uu/

•ai (d dtujííis; -i)

/joo jaan, sà?rà? -am/

tllU (li ^1-3, 1 imTU, M >114)

/^hoo cháai),woo wEEn, noo nuu/

lîty (íí ^1-3, îiîs: i-, îy ^«0-3)

/choo cháai), sà?rà? -9d-, yoo yig/

ilau (fl t«n, íTfsí 1-9, 14 viij)

/áoo dèk, sà?rà? «a, noo nuu/

mfji4 (yi tiviii, itis; l-fj, 14 mij)

/thoo thá?haan, sà?rà? ia, noo nuu/

•^14 (vl 1^14, 1uiTy0iniff, M MU)

/foo fan, màyhân?aakàat, noo nuu/

B-3

/loo Iii}, sà?rà? -i-, ï)oo I)UU/

(a

B-3,

îTîs; -, >3

4) PARTICULARITIES:

Predisposed vocalics are mentioned before the initial. Upperscript symbols are mentioned after the initial. When a consonant carries the silence marker, it is followed by ml'y« /kaaran/. Example: »^^(íTíSí H-, -3

IuIyI, ÏJ Ui)/sà?rà? EE, 1)00

^uu, máythoo, moo máa/

5) EXERCISE:

(ins I-, % •K1-3, lulfig, PI ilin, îîîs ; Î-ï , pi uni,

IupiI)

/sa?rà? e?, choo cháag, máytáykhúu, doo dèk, sarà? -o?, too tào, máytrii/

i«tn «1 (pi i«n, ííií: t-tn, Impni, tiun) /doo dèk, sà?rà? iao, màyjàttà?waa, yamók/ 0-j^iitjn

(iì ^-3, îïîï ; -, -3 3,

íí mo,

îiîs; -,

luion,

ííis h-,

tj

n In) /thoo thug, sà?rà? a, t^oo guu, soo sua, sà?rà? ii, mày?èek, sà?rà? EE, yoo yak, koo kày/

121

iiiuii"hfì (i 110, tl 0<1, U /too

11114, n

nini, ííisí 7, n in)

^

/M

Y '-.í -A., i Ç/

rua, thw thug, boo baymáy, roo hän, thoo thahaan, sa?rà? u,

koo kày/

li-3
(ítis; 1-, 1 110, >3 i, ^ isí'WO, lui0n, ÍÍISÍ 1, ÍT Iff0, l3uíiTi40imfí,

pi ip!i, 1 iiini4, miuw)

•

/sarà? 00, roo rua, goo guu, khoorá?khag, máy?éek, sa?rà? aa, soo sua, V

máyhan?aakáat, too tào, woo wEEn, kaaran/

ii .Ítíúi ;Híífiií' Aíh ¡

..

:>s-í

,

. • • •

ccl\

• ; f

..ícft

;>!": > • Í! 'ÍIO'Í.'OÍÍI Viís

.

'

Íí, ..

:8aiTi«AJU3IIMA'l íí'

•>

} s;e three i.T « ß i arc .fíwaví

(| s-

{gjtiijs

vf»« bwt^h;»-.:!

-ifs'^^ov h9?on-iiì) ;r'^ >U,din//• íqhaaisqqU

.vfr£iEB3l\ »f-rltfi vá bsv/ctio'i ei ti ,i9^íí.!n s-oriafv? -ífíj .-jht,,/; jfîK'io«noj b n-nié'

UiHií!

,ii)jp

,:I3

S^fi'ÎLîïn :3gì:)»H/3 ti

J

«V

r«] s' •

k:«

I is-'-J(f«î f»

H I fil** • «i

.f.jfiî Ce} ,^0- '.'iiiHii ,,4'jÎ,) '•

'

^

y?

ccJÍT' ,,

'

fnao jcmiú'

ïrB,,fifcâ {=,) p rofti

\^òmfcV .fifW''¿ílí:«íifn ,OÍ;Í'Biîé? ,-ii :::îTï'•'.netui'

,

¥ .--i -iß)

sîii

fCiBi Ti

4^

-itn

fifa)

tc.b\ nöjmtß

(hfn / : Ì 3 t h ' ' à .ioáVvíi/n ,:f "¿1*'^« . u m

122

cc« .üí.;; '-Cií ,fj

0 .çifii tcriî'

CHAPTER 16 HOW TO USE A DICTIONARY Words are arranged in order of consonants vocalics tonal markers. CONSONANT ALPHABETICAL ORDER: n, II, u,ft5

iJ,

W,

^1,

VI,

vJ, fl,

ÎJ,-], 3J, EJ, 1,

"K, OJ, ty, 9, 9, 3' *^5

a, 1, ft,

W,

fi,

^5 B»

u,

V!, W, 0, 0

VOCALIC ALPHABETICAL ORDER: -S,--,--!,!-!,-"-),-, -1,

-0,-,,-, I- ,

1-0, I - I - 1 , i-1SÍ,

I- fj, I- 0, IÍ-, II-, T-, 1-1,1-, 1TONAL MARKERS: I 3^ CV + ""î ~9 ~ 1 ) WHEN THE INITIAL IS DIRECTLY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER CONSONANT Example:

yiHII

- first look under n, - then find H in the consonant alphabetical order, - look for 1 in the vocalic alphabetical order, - and then look for 1. 2) WHEN THE DOUBLE INITIAL CONSONANT IS PRECEDED BY A PREDISPOSED VOCALIC: Example:

Ina

- look under n, - then find the predisposed vocalic in the vocalic alphabetical order.

123

- and look for a in the consonant alphabetical order,

3) WHEN THE INITIAL CONSONANT CARRIES A TONAL MARKER: As words are arranged in order of consonants, vocalics and tonal markers the three following words will appear in this order: 111

/khay/

( to open, to unlock )

llj

/khày/

( egg )

1«U

/khay/

( to be ill with a fever; fever )

REMARK: The four words beginning with 0 -Ml and all the words beginning with "H Wl are found under H and

0.

•

YjTDa«ia

vn

.

fit Tatou áooí i n í í .fv .TiO-j affi-ii H bíiíí n'îii; :

• ; t.:

( í • '. : íi

J . :u l 'K/Í .•'íV'í í v y Á i h í M .

A YH

i'i I-''i:'--:.' i : )

-iJíl-JOd í:r:

/

124

h- -

This booK Is Intended for all people wishing to learn the Thai system of writing and reading

Reading and Writing Thai Is not as difficult as It looks once the basic system has been mastered, so persevere and have fun. It Is worth a little effort.